By Nikos Varlas/ info@eurohoops.net
Vassilis Spanoulis made some mythical accomplishments in the Greek Basket League Finals. He has proven that when you believe in yourself, then only sky is the limit. Neither age or even imagination can be your boundaries. Hard work, love for what you are doing and the will to transcend yourself are the elements that can make someone successful.
The captain of Olympiacos possesses all the above in.. abundance. And that is why he is a legend. A little after Olympiacos arrived in “Peace and Friendship” arena, after winning the title against Panathinaikos in OAKA, V-Span spoke exclusively to Eurohoops in a rare confession.
With scratches and small wounds in his arms and neck from the…. raving hugs by Olympiacos funs after getting… “beaten by love” as he specifically mentioned to Eurohoops TV, he spoke about everyone and everything.
The two winning shots in the opponents’ home-court that go in once in a hundred years, thanking God, his determination to become better and improve the game even more, the message to the young fans of Panathinaikos and generally to kids that want to live the magical experience of sports.
You’ve accomplished so many things in your career. Is this shot the moment that took you to a completely different level?
“It will definitely go down in history. What went down was something that only happens in dreams. I believe that any big title has its significance. But believe me… I think that this one is special, in the sense that historic things happened for the team. Firstly, for the first time in the club’s history we win the title at Panathinaikos’s home court. Secondly, we won back-to-back championships after 20 years. Thirdly, it’s the way in which we won. These were some amazing games. Maybe even the best series in the last 20 years. Not in terms of quality, perhaps, but definitely in terms of suspense. And it was all done against a great team, a huge opponent. That bestows an even greater value to our accomplishment. When you defeat such a big opponent like Panathinaikos, then the championship definitely acquires a different kind of value.”
Do you feel that everything that happened, considering the way they happened, were simply meant to be?
“Look, some amazing things definitely happened for us to win the championship. Apart from that, I have faith in my strengths and the strengths of the team. I have faith in God, in becoming better – both for me and the team. After my family, basketball is my whole life. I live for it 24 hours a day, constantly thinking of ways to improve. And I believe today, as a team, we feel vindicated.”
You were honest in the press conference. What was said about you was that ‘Spanoulis can’t win and make big shots in the OAKA’. From now on, what could be the next big challenge for you?
“Well, everyone has the right to say what they want. It’s simply that I had, and still do, and always will have great faith in myself. I definitely wasn’t expecting this to happen in this way, with two buzzer beaters. That was like a dream. You know… one buzzer beater might happen only once in a lifetime. Two is something that only happens in dreams, it’s something mythical, and I thank God for it, that I helped my team win the championship with these shots. The way it happened was magical. But I want to improve. I think there are elements in my game that can make me even better. I’m going to work hard in the summer so that I can be even better next season than what I’ve shown in the last years.”
In the last play, it’s you and Dimitris Diamantidis, side by side.
“It’s something fantastic. We happened to win this time, and we wanted it badly. But what derives from these games is that we advertise the game of basketball throughout the whole Europe. These games were truly amazing. Beyond that, we’re very happy now but in a couple of days the chip in my brain will start functioning again for new challenges and new kinds of motivation for the new season.”
A close friend of yours said after the game that ‘Spanoulis is the one who, when you think things start going bad, he makes his legend even bigger.’ Who do you think said that?
“Zisis?”
Yes.
(Smiles) “Well, Nikos is my best man and like a brother to me, we have so many things in common. I thank him for his kind words and, for me. It’s very important who actually speaks these words. I know what Nikos says comes from his heart. He means it and I thank him. It’s not my intention to grow my legend. My goal is to do everything I can to help my team win. It happened in this way, and this happens once in a hundred years. It happened to be me who scored twice at the buzzer, and I’m happy I was able to help my team.”
Were you accidentally “beaten” from the fans of Olympiacos when they rushed to hug and adore you?
“More than in the game! But I think it all came from a place of love. I think the fans were amazing. It was one of the few times we had so many people. We don’t even have so many people in our European games. We all enjoyed it and it was a moment that deserves to be treasured.”
Last question. In Greece we haven’t learned how to lose and we take the win for granted. The fans of Olympiacos are in seventh heaven now, but in these finals there were steps made towards changing the overall culture. What to you have to say to young fans, to 7- or 10-year-old kids that were crying?
“Emotions are something that you can’t control, especially when you’re dealing with children. What I have to say is that, in sports there are many disappointments and only a few joys. I believe that we have to enjoy those good moments. That there is not only victory in sports. There’s also defeat. Just like in life. And that when we win we have to be level-headed and not just “fly in the clouds,”. To be in control mentally. We shouldn’t get so disappointed in defeat because if we truly believe in it and we work hard at it, better days will surely come.”