GRE – Tsartsaris inspires Panathinaikos in Greek Cup triumph

ATHENS (Greek Cup) - No team should make excuses after losing games.

The way Konstantinos Tsartsaris played for Panathinaikos in the Greek Cup final for the third year running on Wednesday, though, suggests his absence due to injury was pivotal during the Top 16 when the Greens were eliminated from the Euroleague.

He won MVP honors in the cup for a third straight time by scoring 14 points and pulling down five rebounds in an 81-79 victory over Olympiacos.

“What is important is that we have recovered and we are looking to go on from here and win the double,” Tsartsaris said, before adding that his absence in the Top 16 “did not play a big role in the European exit”.

With rivals Olympiacos advancing instead into the last eight in the Euroleague, there was no doubting that Panathinaikos and their fans were suffering and could ill afford a defeat to the Reds in the cup final.

"We were in a bad state psychologically after the elimination from the Euroleague but the team has stuck together and has played very well in such an important game,” Tsartsaris said.

Panathinaikos, who beat PAOK and then Panellinios en route to the final, are now turning their attention to the league and hoping to capture a sixth consecutive league crown.

“We’ve got the cup and now we have to aim for the championship,” Tsartsaris said.

With five games remaining in the regular season, Panathinaikos are one point clear of Olympiacos.

There is a very good chance these two teams will meet in the play-off finals.

FIBA