May 24, 2012
Quarterfinal Analyst: Kostas Charalampidis - Panellinios BC
Kostas Charalampidis - Panellinios BC (photo Panellinios)Veteran shooting guard Kostas Charalampidis has been arguably the top sixth man in the Eurocup this season. He is the only reserve to appear among the top 20 scorers and ranks second in the competition in points per minute. Charalampidiss toughest outing came on the road at Gran Canaria, something he will try to make up for when then two teams meet with a ticket to the Eurocup Finals on the line. "We know Gran Canaria is a good team," Charalampidis said. "They are playing well, but if we manage to stay focused and play at the level we have been playing lately, I think we will have a good chance to make it."

Panellinios has had a good Eurocup season so far, bettering last year's results and moving within a step of reaching the Eurocup finals? What can we expect from your team in the Quarterfinals?

"I think that we have played very good basketball so far from the beginning of the season. Our first goal was to make it to the Last 16 - and we made it. After that, we saw that we could do much better. The road win against Benetton was very important to us. We saw that we could achieve bigger goals and right now we feel that we have a very good chance to make it to the Eurocup Finals."

You already played against Gran Canaria twice this season. What do you think about the team?

"It will be tough for both teams. It takes a long time to get to Gran Canaria, it's a long trip, but it is the same distance for them to come to play against us in Athens. We beat them easily early in the regular season, but also lost easily at their place. I think these two upcoming games will be much closer. Our goal is to get a good lead in the first leg of the series here in Athens, because the second leg is always the most important one. If we get a good lead, we can go over there and try to qualify."

Your season has been fantastic so far. You have played really well coming off the bench, with a different role than you had in Maroussi last season. How has the Eurocup season been for you this far?

"I just enjoy the game, I didn't have to do anything special to adapt to a new role or anything like that. This is my first year in Panellinios, but the coaching staff believes in me. All the players have their own responsibilities and it is easier for me when my coach tells me which specific things I should do. That way, I can step on court and do them. We have a very talented team this season and anybody can step up on any given night. That is why we are doing well so far."

Since you already played against Gran Canaria, from your own point of view, who are their most dangerous players?

"You know, it is difficult to say. They have a lot of good American players and a lot of players that did well against us when we faced them in the regular season. I wouldn't be able to say which one or two players we should stop to win the series. Their main strength is that they play as a team. It is quite difficult to beat a team that plays together like they do."

What does Panellinios have to do in order to win the series and reach the Eurocup finals?

"Nothing different that what we have already done. We have played well so far and I think we can play the same way anywhere. If we managed to be focused for all 80 minutes in Athens and Gran Canaria, we will have our chance to advance. We know Gran Canaria is a good team. They are playing well, but if we manage to stay focused and play at the level we have been playing lately, I think we will have a good chance to make it."
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Eurocupbasketball.com
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