GRE – Papaloukas: ‘I believe that our national team is on track’

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - Theo Papaloukas is one of the greats in Greek basketball.

A star at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, his finest hour with the country came the following year in Belgrade.

The 2m guard helped the national team battle back late in their EuroBasket semi-final to stun France before helping them defeat Greece in the gold medal game.

Papaloukas also had a huge role in the semi-final win over Team USA at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, a victory that led to huge celebrations in the streets of Athens.

He is now with the national team again as they prepare to host next week’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The 31-year-old Papaloukas gave this interview to the Hellenic Basketball Federation website after Greece’s three victories in the Acropolis Tournament.

In this tournament, our National Team came up against Brazil, its great rival from the first round of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. What do you make of their style and competitiveness after that game?

Papaloukas: The important thing for us is how we play, not the manner in which our rivals choose to compete. We presented an overall pleasing character, we showed punctuality, but these are preparation games. What is crucial is our performances in the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Is there something that has to be fixed in Greece’s game so that it can be 100% ready to participate in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament?

Papaloukas: Stability could be brought on with a bit more conviction. We experienced some blank periods, while committing a few mistakes. Mistakes, of course, are a normal thing to have, but limiting the number of them is something we must succeed in doing if we want to reach the goals we have set.

Have the absences of Michalis Kakiouzis, Demos Dikoudis, Lazaros Papadopoulos and Nikos Chatzivrettas affected you, the guys from the previous national teams?

Papaloukas: When the team’s roster changes, it’s somewhat strange and peculiar, but life goes on for all of us. At some point, we will leave and others will come to fill our spots, just as we succeeded our predecessors. It’s a natural evolving phenomenon. The important thing in the national team is that it is built in such a way that when newcomers are added, the possibility from them to learn from the older members exists, thus gaining a smoother adaptation and maintaining a healthy flow.

Was the team’s chemistry something that was broadly discussed after all the new additions? Has it fluctuated at all?

Papaloukas: We had good chemistry in all the teams before, we have good chemistry now. We tried to follow our coach’s instructions down to his very last word and we all try our best. We don’t have much time ahead for preparation, but we have bonded quite well and apparently we are improving game by game. The same thing goes for the atmosphere in the team. It was and it remains in an upbeat tempo. I believe that our national team is on track.

In the Acropolis Tournament, you got a good whiff of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, competing in front of a Greek crowd.

Papaloukas: The people that came were a great help, but all that is of importance begins now. That is why we need them next to us, to support us and make the official games sold out, filling the Olympic Athletic Centre of Athens arena …

FIBA