GRE – Yannakis continues with Greece

ATHENS (FIBA Olympics Qualifier) – If Greece are going to reach the Olympics in China, Panagiotis Yannakis will lead them.

That’s the word coming out of Athens, where the President Emeritus of the Hellenic Basketball Federation, George Vassilakopoulos, has said that Yannakis “did not commit a crime to be punished” when becoming coach of Olympiacos in February.

“He didn’t break any deal between us (Greek federation), so there is no problem,” Vassilakopoulos said.

Yannakis caused a stir by taking over Olympiacos because many of his national team players are members of Panathinaikos, the arch rivals of the Reds.

Yannakis will now be in charge when Greece host the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July where they will attempt to claim one of three places still up for grabs for the Beijing Games.

Greece are hosting the event and are in Group A with Brazil and Lebanon, with potential quarter-final games against Germany or New Zealand.

Yannakis led the Greeks to gold at EuroBasket 2005 and silver at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Last year, the Greeks finished fourth at the EuroBasket in Spain.

FIBA