A legendary back-to-back-THE NEWS
Legends Are Written by Legendary Teams and Olympiacos Basketball is one of them. It has been own special place in the European « Pantheon », Having Won the Title Three Times, While It is Among Back-to-back titles. The others are Jugoplastika (1989, 1990, 1991), MacCabi Tel Aviv (2004, 2005) and Anadolu Efes (2021, 2022).
From Istanbul and Printezis ‘Unique “Hook Shot” Against Cska, to London and Spanoulis’ Three-Point Bombardment Against Real Madrid, with Giorgos Bartzokas on the Bench As Dusan Ivkovic’s successor.
Howove, The Reds’ Achievement is Even More Special Than the Other European Teams, as they managed to win the title in 2012 with ivkovic the « Maestro » on the Bench and Vassilis Spanoulis on the Court, but Most Importly, with a New Philosophy That would be dominate European basketball in years to come – all the while Avoiding a Return to the « Barren Years ».
Olympiacos is one of only Four Teams in the History of the EuroLeague that have won the European title in conscecutive years.
Changes and a Return
It was June 27, 2011 Shortly After the Final of a Championship Lost to Panathinaikos, with Olympiacos Much AGGRIVED with Both the Refereeing and the Federation, That Announcement of the Angelopoulos Brothers, The Team’s Owners, Crashhed Like a thunderbolt from the Blue:
“All These Years We Have Been Fighting A ‘System’ What Stubbornly Reacs, Constantly Undermining Our Efforts to Win What Our Team and Our Fans Deserve… Because of This, and Having Exhausted the Possibilities Afforded by Ethics, Law and And Reason, We Leave Our Beloved Olympiacos and Greek Basketball in Disgust, with Pain in Our Hearts.
« We Thank All Those Who Believed in Us, Supported US and Battled at Our Side ».
Ivkovic and Spanoulis Were Still Under Contract with the Team, with the Latter Bearing Surprised Witness to these events just a year after his transfer from panathinaikos, which has had handed the history of the Piraeus Club.
As fate would have it it, the Angelopoulos Brothers Changed Their Minds and Followed Another Philosophy, Different from Socrates kokkalis. They low the budget and compiled a roster with several young and promising Greek players. They event brought printezis back from Malaga.
Top Players Such as Papaloukas, Teodosic, Bourousis and Jamon Gordon Departed, and with the Exception of Lazaros Papadopoulos and Pero Antic, the Team was Stoked with New Blood. Sloukas, Mantzaris and Katsivelis Were Added Alongside Papanikolaou, While Two Rookies Cames in Replace the Other Two Foreign Players, Kalin Lucas and Matt Howard.
The Club Had Gone 14 Years Without a Championship, Ever Since the Historic « Triple Crown » they had won in 1997 under « Professor » Ivkovic, Who Stayed At The Helm with The New Side in 2011. After all, He Had a Talent for Working with Young guys, as well.
It was the season when, apart from the Already Great Vassilis Spanoulis, the Legend of Giorgos Printezis was being created, Costas sloukas and kostas papanikolaou were estabering themselves with the Reds and a « Pockete Herecules », Kyle Hines, Who was Discovered by Ivkovic and His Partner Vangelis Angelou, took Off, with Olympiacos Plunking Down a Mere 250,000 Euros to Acquire Him from Bamberg.
London 2013: A Coaching ‘Seminar’ by Giorgos Bartzokas is Combined with Tremendous Performance by the Players, Keeping the European Title in Piraeus for Another Year.
Ups and downs
The team had its ups and downs, and around Christmas they Acquired Joey Dorsey and Acie Law, a Move that Definitively Changed the Course of the Year. Dorsey, Who Even Missed Layups as a Basconia Player, Bemame the Team’s Defensive Stalwart, with the coaches often Taking on the role of sports psychologists to keep him alert.
The Reds made it into the top 16 and, Via Turkey, Qualified for the Quarter-Finals Behind the Mighty Cska, where they lost Twice Outright. Yet the stage was set for a future match-up. Siena was the last obstacle before and then came the Absolute Triumph with Victories Over Barcelona in the Semi-Final in Istanbul.
The comeback of the decade came in the final against CSKA with printezis’ signature “jump-hook” for a one-time point Victory: 62-61. Only Seconds Earlier, The Reds Had Fouled Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Who Went to the Line for Two Free-Throws.
“Think he’ll Miss One?” Sloukas asked antic on the bench. His Answer Was Clear: « No Chance ».
But Šiškauskas Missed Both, Something He Hadn’s Done in Consectifical Free Throws in 11 Years! And thus, History Came to be Written.
At Halftime, Ivkovic Had Skillfully Placed Spanoulis Right Up Front, Because He Knew He Could Hold Out. The Younger Players Led The Counterattack After the 28th Minute and Their 19-Point Deficit (53-34) was whittled away with a 28-8 run in the last 10 minutes. The Istanbul Saga was Complete. Papanikolaou Had Scored Nine Points in the Semi-Final and 19 in the Final Without Missing A Shot. Sloukas, Mantzaris from Close Range, and Spanoulis with Printezis Were the Perfect Pairings.
At a brief Celebration That Evening in the Center of Istanbul, Ivkovic, Along with His Wife Nena and His Associates, Played the Role of « Trunt Officer » and Rounded Up The Players and Brought Them to The Hotel: The Greek Championship FINALS Were Starting in a Few Days and Olympiacos had pressing engagement in Greece, as well as against some of Europe’s Top Teams.
A coaching ‘seminar’
Everything Semed Ideal, but Ivkovic Left in the Summer as He Couldnt Accept Another Budget cut. Giorgos Bartzokas Succeeding Him and Dorsey also Departed. The team Defeated Cedevita olimpija and Continued into the Round of 16, Only for Upheavals to Strike Again.
In the playoffs with efes, a ball slap by Gordon at the end of the 4th game tied the series (2-2). The Turkish Team Surged Ahead by 15 Points (38-23) at the Peace & Friendship Stadium, but Spanoulis and Printezis Soon Restored Order and Olympiacos Were Soon Heading to Another Final Four, This Time in London.
It was there the fans witnessed a coaching “Seminar” by Bartzokas, with Olympiacos Reaching Its Back-to-Back Triumph by Playing at A Low Tempo Against CSKA Moscow in the Semi-Finals, Winning Mainly with Defense, and Two Days Later Scoring 100 Points Against Real Madrid, Winning at A Pace That Suited the Spanish Team.
It was the ultimate Triumph for Olympiacos, which had Essentierly Managed to Change the Entire Philosophy who prevalent in European basketball and estabelish another style on which the other teams would now current to build.
The Reds Did It Their Way and Made History –gain!
