21.03.2009 | PRESS
CONFERENCE
Wout
WIJSMAN (Team Captain, Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo):
I am very disappointed. I don't know what happened. Panathinaikos bgan to
serve better and receive better and with the help of their fans they started to
believe. We failed to react properly and were too impatient.
Sotiris
PANTALEON (Team Captain, Panathinaikos Athens):
I am very happy to have won this match and especially the way we won it. We
have played against many Italian teams and our experience is that they know how
to win tough matches. In Piacenza, for instance, we were 2-0 up and we lost the
match. That's what I always admired from Italian teams. But today we proved that
we too have the will and ability to do the same. I have experience many happy
moments with Panathinaikos, but beacause we still have a final ahead of us, we
still have the opportunity to make this tournament an even happier moment. When
you're on the court you don't have such a clear view of what happened, so maybe
it's better for the coach to speak. I hope we have even more fans on our side
tomorrow and that we can make them happy.
Silvan PRANDI (Head Coach,
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo):
We began to have problems from the third set, especially due to the service
of our opponents, which influenced our attacking. At the same time,
Panathinaikos' block also improved. I do not take back what I said about the
spectators. Because if I did, I would have to cut off points from the players of
Panathinaikos, who were excellent and had good tactics. I still believe that it
is the players who play and not the fans.
Coaches make substitutions to provide solutions, not to bring about a worse
result. I put in Biribanti to help out because it was obvious the match was
going to be a long one. In any case, one has to test out all the possibilities
one has.
Alekos LEONIS (Head Coach, Panathinaikos):
I would like to thank all my players, for in any
such comeback as today's everyone must contribute.
Pantaleon, for instance, will have to have an
injection on Monday and will be off for a week. Our
supporters gave us tremendous help. All of the
semifinals I have been in as coach, extended to five
sets--and I have learned a few things from this
experience. My players now need to go and relax and
we have to concentrate on a great opponent,
whichever that may be. It's not easy, but I think
maybe God owes me something.
We started off with difficulties in reception, in
our float service and in chasing a team that had
already gained a 5- to 7-point lead. We could not
stop Wijsman. But as the match progressed our
serving got better and and we won the match.
If it was one month ago, I would rather we played
against Belogorie in the final, but by now
Khamuttskikh is well and can connect with his team
mates blindfolded. Of course, their style of play is
different to ours, but we have to do our job.
