Coach expresses faith in team

Greece begins defense of European basketball title today against Israel in Eurobasket’s Group A

Panayiotis Yiannakis backed Greece on the eve of Eurobasket 2007 in Spain. ‘The team is not made just for this tournament. If given support and patience, it has more success to offer,’ said Yiannakis, who recently rejected an offer by the main opposition PASOK party to run on the ballot in upcoming national elections.

Greece begins its defense of the men's European basketball title today against Israel, the Eurobasket tournament's final qualifier, through as the winner of last week's last stage of qualifying competition.

«We start off against a dangerous opponent with experienced players from various European leagues and players from major clubs such as Maccabi,» said Greece coach Panayiotis Yiannakis. «This is a team that tries to irritate you, affect your mind,» he added.

Israel was the tournament's 16th and final qualifier after triumphing against FYROM and Bosnia and Herzegovina in a three-way tournament in Spain last week for Eurobasket's remaining berth.

Playing in Group A, Greece will also face Serbia and Russia in first-stage group games, tomorrow and Wednesday, respectively.

Yiannakis refused to offer comments about Greece's two other group games.

Greece's coach said it was inevitable that his squad should also have on its mind the tragic fire-related developments in Greece.

«We've come to yet another major tournament and have left behind people with major worries. We're supportive of them and all the boys in the squad are concerned about how things are back home,» said Yiannakis.

He indicated that his men would stick to Greece's customary game plan which produced a European title two years ago and the silver medal at last year's Worlds.

«It doesn't matter if your opponents know your game. The important things is how well you can execute what you've planned,» said Yiannakis. «You can keep playing the same game strategy for years without being stopped by your rival, simply because you're executing it very well.»

Yiannakis warned that Greece's success would motivate opponents to push harder.

«We know all our opponents want to defeat us, and they have the talent and quality to do so. We need to remain patient when under pressure and find the solutions that will help us achieve our objective and make proud the people who adore and follow us,» said Yiannakis. «We've come here as champions, but we're beginning from scratch. .. We're at a point where we know what we want in games,» said Yiannakis.

The European champion began its Eurobasket quest with a comfortable away win against Italy in its final warm-up game late last week.

Greece will be without forward Antonis Fotsis who was ruled out by club doctors at Dynamo Moscow after they estimated he will need at least four weeks to recover from a hand fracture.

Meanwhile, in Greek club-level basketball, former NBA Player Iakovos Tsakalidis moved to Piraeus club Olympiakos following tenures with AEK in Greece and three NBA clubs, the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets. Sources said he signed a two-year deal with Olympiakos.