The Greek Basketball League (GBL) championship series was “resurrected” on Wednesday, with the third game between Panathinaikos Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus expected to be played on Friday evening at the Athens Olympic Stadium (OAKA) – the former’s home court.
The series was halted after an acrimonious second game at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF) in Neo Faliro last week, which Olympiacos won to even the series. That game was marred by the ejection of Panathinaikos’ well-known coach, Ergin Ataman, the departure of its owner, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the latter’s inflammatory rhetoric afterwards and in the subsequent days, and obscene chants from the stands throughout.
Alternate Sports Minister Giannis Vroutsis, left.
Following a two-hour meeting with Alternate Sports Minister Giannis Vroutsis at the education ministry on Wednesday, Olympiacos’ owners, Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, revealed the breakthrough to reporters while exiting the office.
“We believe that the finals will continue normally,” Panagiotis Angelopoulos said, with his brother Giorgos adding: “A constructive discussion took place, the government’s volition is clear. It showed a serious willingness to take measures so that the phenomena that brought us here are not repeated.”
Earlier, Vroutsis had met separately with Panathinaikos BC owner Giannakopoulos for roughly an hour and a half. The latter also said he was certain the finals would resume.
An official announcement is pending by Greece basketball federation, ESAKE.
Both clubs later issued a joint announcement, stating that “…we declare our unconditional commitment to the absolutely peaceful and fair completion of the 2024-2025 Basket League championship finals. We have absolute confidence in the Greek justice system for all the issues that have arisen.”
