By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos Piraeus captain Georgios Printezis is headed to Belgrade next week for the sixth Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four of his long and illustrious career. Days before the big semifinal against reigning champions Anadolu Efes (May 19, 18:00 CET), Printezis talks to Eurohoops’ Vangelis Ioannou about the challenge of this matchup, while he also rewinds back to the beginning of his career with the Reds and the decision about his future.
“We have a great team, the series against Monaco helped us improve physically and mentally as a team. I have a good feeling”, he tells Eurohoops about the game against Efes. “Why shouldn’t we win? It’s just a game. During the series against Monaco, I said that if we make it through the Final Four, we have to be physically prepared to give our 100% against Efes, but mentally we should be happy and smiling because we achieved something difficult. We have to enjoy it with no stress and pressure. We will have our fans by our side, so we will feed off the energy, and, why not, win.”
Aged 37, Printezis has lifted two EuroLeague titles with Olympiacos and won three Greek League titles, all in his second stint with the team. Inevitably, he is reaching the end of his career and he admits that he has taken a decision about his future. Even though he will not yet reveal what that decision is about, he says it’s been taken long ago and won’t change regardless of the outcome of this season.
“Whether one feels young or not is more of a state of mind”, Printezis comments. “Physically, I feel good, but it’s not up to me to judge. I don’t have any taboos. I have taken my decision a long time ago. I have my own reasons for not making it public. I would never coerce the team “to play one more year” if I was in a bad physical condition only to put my personal interest above the team. I have taken a decision and whatever happens, when I feel like it’s my time to leave I will do so, regardless of whether we have won a title or not.”
Printezis, a fan favourite and pillar of the team, also recalls memories with Olympiacos, the moments that have stuck with him and gives his own take about playing professionally at the top level.
“It was August 3, 2000, when I stepped into the Peace and Friendship Stadium court for the first time. I have great memories. A big dream that came true was to be in this team as a captain, as a player. 22 years is more than half of my life. I have so many memories here, but it’s not always the good moments that stick with you. Maybe it sticks for the fans. The tough ones are those that make you love the team and its people even more”.
“Professional sports are tough. Somebody may be watching a two-hour game, but there are too many things, too much mental concentration, too much joy and sorrow. No athlete has their way exactly the way they want it to be. I’ve had so many weird moments where I could have said “I quit”. The easiest thing to do in a game of chess is to say that you quit. The most difficult part is to play until the end”.