By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
“For us to come here, to put on the jersey, getting very close to the people that do not have the opportunity to see us every day, is amazing,” the Panathinaikos playmaker said to FIBA.
“People have the chance to cheer not only for Panathinaikos and Olympiacos but for Greece. It’s very good, good for the country, for basketball, for the city, for everyone. When you put on the Greece jersey, everybody is united. For us, it’s always great to play for the national team in front of our crowd.”
Calathes says he always wants to represent Greece, which is something he’s done since FIBA EuroBasket 2009, the last time the national team reached the podium. Greece finished third that year.
“Absolutely,” he said. “It’s a great honor to put on this jersey. That’s why I try to play whenever I can, to represent the country, fight and play for the jersey I am privileged to put on.”
Calathes and his Panathinaikos teammates, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Ian Vougioukas, did not play in the win at Great Britain but all three were at the Israel game.
“We always want to play for the national team,” he said. “We got the opportunity and here we are.”