By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Replacing Curro Segura at the helm, Greek tactician Ilias Kantzouris becomes the new head coach of AEK.
Kantzouris, 48, reached a deal with the Queen following a solid campaign as the Kolossos H Hotels boss in 2021-22. The team based in Rhodes ranked third in the final standings of the Stoiximan Basket League Regular Season but the home-court advantage was not enough to prevent the two-game sweep opposite Larissa in the Quarterfinals of the Playoffs.
Back in 2018-19, Kantzouris worked as an assistant coach under Italian play-caller Luca Banchi, then came back from yet another assistant gig at the Queen in 2007. Returning to AEK, this time as the head coach will be combined with international responsibilities stemming from the Greece U18 national team.
Past head-coaching jobs include Iraklis in 2020 and an interim spell at Brose Bamberg after Andrea Trinchieri was fired in 2018. As an assistant, he has worked at Bamberg, UNICS, Zalgiris, Panellinios, Sporting, Aris, Near East, and Apollon Patras, and at the Greek senior national team under Trinchieri as well.
Earlier in the offseason, AEK penned forward Panagiotis Filippakos to a two-year contract extension and also confirmed releasing 32-year-old Eric Griffin. Additional moves are expected heading into the next editions of the Champions League and domestic competitions in Greece.
In other Sunday BCL news, Telekom Baskets Bonn signed Chilean Sebastian Herrera for the 2022-23 season. The German side previously added T.J. Shorts and Deane Williams, reunited with youngster Zachary Ensminger, and extended Tyson Ward and Leon Kratzer.