The week in which the “heart” of Greek basketball will beat in Heraklion is the current week in which the second title of the year, the Greek Cup, will be decided. In a 16-20/2 four-day event with a ground-breaking Final 8 (featuring the top seven teams from the Basketball League’s first round and UNICEF Trophy winner), ECE will aim to bring back the glory of the past. Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK, Peristeri, PAOK, Aris, Colossos and Panionios, through their coaches and captains, pledged yesterday that they would do their best for a spectacular event. The Vice President called Final 8 a “great celebration”. Sports L. Avgenakis, as well as EEC and ESAKE Presidents V. Liolios and V. Galatsopoulos, the latter also referring to the financial claims of the sport, to which, according to him, he is entitled. “The tournament will be competitive. We don’t consider ourselves favorites,” said Olympiakos head coach Giorgos Bartzokas. “Our approach is to focus on Colossos, the first game of the Final 8,” said Panathinaikos coach Dejan Radonich.

“As AEK, we are going to give everything, with respect but without a shadow of fear,” said Soyuz coach Ilias Kanzuris. “The Final Eight should become an institution. There is no pressure on us,” said Vassilis Spanoulis on behalf of Peristeri. “The quarter-final is the final for each team. You have to show yourself ready to win,” said PAOK coach Ari Likoyannis, “we will face possibly the best team in Europe,” admitted Giannis Kastritis of Ari’s quarter-final against Olympiacos when he faced a tough test against Olympiacos “. humor Mission of the Colossus Elias Papatéodorou: “We will play Panathinaikos, in a very difficult scenario we will play Olympiacos, and if we win, we will play … the Golden State Warriors.” Finally, the coach of Panioni, who plays in the 2nd National League, Periklis Tavropoulos called the participation of the team in the tournament an honor.

Schedule: 1/4 finals 16/2: 15.45 Panionios – AEK (1), 19.15 Peristeri – PAOK (2). 17/2: 15.45 Olympiakos – Aris (3), 19.15 Panathinaikos – Colossus of Rhodes (4). Semi-finals 18/2: 15.45 Winner 1 – Winner 2 (5), 19.15 Winner 3 – Winner 4 (6). Final 19/2: 19.15 Winner 5 – Winner 6.