Joining me tonight via Zoom to have an all out talk about Greece and the second round is Greece Head Coach Dimitris Itoudis.
Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/
Follow our social media pages:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines
Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/
Follow our social media pages:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Heading into the World Cup, Greece was expected to be led by two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
00:05 Unfortunately, due to a surgery, Giannis had to sit out the World Cup.
00:09 However, it seems like not having Giannis is not a problem for the Hellas so far as they reach the second round of the World Cup.
00:16 And joining me tonight via Zoom to have an all-out conversation and talk about Greece and the second round is none other than the man himself.
00:25 There he is, head coach Dimitris Itoudis.
00:29 I hope I can say this right, coach. Good evening in Greek.
00:33 Good afternoon.
00:34 Good afternoon. Did I say it right?
00:38 Good afternoon. Good evening. Thank you so much for the invitation. Yes, you did pronounce my name correct.
00:44 I'm trying. I'm learning how to speak your language, coach.
00:47 But thank you so much for teaching me how during the break.
00:51 Welcome to the show. Welcome to CNN Philippines, here on SportsSas.
00:55 Thank you so much for taking time. I know you are tired, but so far so good.
00:59 Congratulations. You're moving on to the next round.
01:02 How are you? How's the team? And how are you enjoying your stay here so far in Manila?
01:08 Well, first of all, I would like to thank you for the invitation.
01:12 I'd like to say thank you for all the kind words.
01:14 And I can say this, which pretty much, you know, already for your country, everybody over here is very polite.
01:21 They want to help you. Everybody is doing the best.
01:24 The organization so far goes great. Teams are having everything what is needed to work daily basis.
01:34 And pretty much the interest is high and we like the organization.
01:41 So how is the team? The team is resting a little bit, having a light practice.
01:46 And we have had the first meeting in order to prepare the next opponent.
01:53 Well, coach, let's talk about the World Cup. Of course, Greece again.
01:57 Congratulations. You're through to the round of 16.
02:01 It was a tough group because you were with Team USA.
02:03 But let's talk about the first round campaign. You guys, well, you got the win over Jordan and then you also beat New Zealand last night.
02:12 That was a tough game, Coach Dimitris. And then you're moving on.
02:17 But you also lost to Team USA. How tough was Group C for you, Coach, having to be with Jordan, New Zealand and, of course, Team USA?
02:26 And how did you rally your team after, you know, after losing that game, one game to Team USA?
02:35 Well, you got to be realistic. So with the roster we came, which we're proud of,
02:43 you know, we need to know that we have missed six significant players of what we have had last year in Eurobasket for several reasons.
02:53 But we came over here proudly to defend our country.
02:57 And one day before the first game, first official game against Jordan, our first quarter in friendly games and our first rebounder, Dino Smito, got injured.
03:07 So he had to go back. And that was a shock kind of, honestly speaking.
03:14 But the team had covered his absence great. Each and every one of the players gave a promise that they will play also for him, for Dino.
03:25 And pretty much that's what we saw in the two crucial games, which we considered as a finals for us, because saying that we have to be realistic.
03:33 So far, United States had played the best basketball. They have a very good team and we couldn't compete on the on the highest level.
03:40 But we did a good performance, sharing the time and try to get also try to win if allow me to say something out of this game.
03:48 So we want experience. We want some things. We try to do several things defensively and offensively,
03:53 which helped us against the final against New Zealand that allow me to say that this game yesterday had two different faces.
04:03 The first round, the first actually half and the second half, we've been completely with a different mindset and a different approach on the second half.
04:12 Yeah, you were down 11 at one point and then you were able to rally and actually 15.
04:18 I'm sorry. We've been down 15. That was the biggest lead.
04:21 Yes. And then what changed, coach?
04:24 What adjustments did you make in order to still be in that game, not be deflated and still win that game?
04:33 Well, it's all about the players. It's about how much they they're locked in and they're they're believing to what they're doing.
04:42 And, you know, we talked a lot in the halftime. We said we have 20 minutes to react, not actually to react.
04:49 It will be too late to react, but we need to act. Yeah.
04:52 And we acted. We we had three consecutive defenses from the beginning,
04:58 starting from the Nassar set, the people picking up and showing what we want to do and force turnovers.
05:04 And obviously, defense helps you to establish a better offensive sets and you build your confidence from defense.
05:13 We had some shots, but the fact that we end the third quarter 18 to 11,
05:18 that gave us the boost needed at that time that we can really defend and come back.
05:23 Let's don't forget and congratulate all teams so far, obviously, in our group, the United States play the best basketball,
05:30 but New Zealand as well. They have shown a group of of players that can compete, play physical level of foul.
05:39 And they were very aggressive. Yeah, that's a very good team.
05:42 Actually, they had a good start against Team USA. I watched that game live.
05:46 Coach, a lot of people expected Giannis Antetokounmpo to lead the charge for you guys this year.
05:51 But unfortunately, that surgery on his left, he prevented him from doing that.
05:55 It would have been different to have the Greek freak two time MVP in the NBA to be here.
06:00 And we all know how much he wanted to be playing in the World Cup.
06:03 It looks like his absence. Well, so far, not so much a problem because you guys, as I said, still performing at a high level.
06:10 What are your thoughts on on your team stepping up to the challenge and showing that with or without Giannis Antetokounmpo,
06:18 the Hellas are one of the best in the tournament?
06:23 Well, Giannis loves national team, he loves to play for for for Alas, he likes to play for Greece, and he proved it so many years,
06:33 but he had to follow the orders of the doctors of Milwaukee, so he had to go to undergo a surgery,
06:40 which unfortunately did not allow him to be here with us.
06:45 But it was not only Giannis, it was his brother Kostas, it was Lucas, it was Tardos, it was Nikolaidis,
06:51 it was a lot of players that this year, for several reasons, because they asked to rest their body, they couldn't be with us.
07:00 But, you know, we kind of had a deal in between us for the players that they've been accept the call and they work hard.
07:11 And not only those 11 that they're here with us or 12 dinners, but all 18, 19 that they had accept the call that,
07:19 you know, we said we do have very significant players that they're not going to be with us.
07:25 But here we are here, we are.
07:28 And let's let's go and fight.
07:31 Lots of times they consider us as favorites.
07:34 Maybe this year we are the underdogs.
07:36 Not maybe for sure we are the underdogs, but the game is not already over before the end of the before the buzzer.
07:44 So we wanted to give our fights.
07:47 We gave our fights with Jordan.
07:48 As I said, we won something against the USA.
07:51 That is a great team, very well coached.
07:54 And, you know, they had a great chemistry.
07:57 And then we played our final again against New Zealand.
07:59 So the players.
08:03 Gather together, we have a good bond there, they stick together.
08:06 They believe each other and we're happy and proud as a country and as a federation and me as a head coach.
08:12 Well, you did mention those are not playing here in the World Cup, of course, Yanis Nikolakis.
08:19 Have you spoken to them?
08:20 Are they planning to come here, especially Yanis to support his brother?
08:24 Is he planning to watch some games because you're moving on to the next round?
08:30 Yeah, I don't know.
08:31 I haven't I haven't spoke recently with Yanis, though, but probably the Nazis did.
08:36 I don't know if they're going to come over here, but they gave us a call.
08:40 I got a bunch of messages for players or ex players and coaches congratulating the team making making that step to the top 16.
08:49 And, you know, we're happy we have Yanis in our team for sure, as I said, maybe not this year,
08:57 but Yanis had proved that he want to help the team.
09:01 He's a top player in NBA and he's one of the main players.
09:09 So. May God keep him healthy and come back as soon as possible, healthy to help his team first and in the future calls with the national team to be present and to help national team of Greece.
09:22 Well, coach up next, it won't get any easier because you're facing a team that's so far looking good here,
09:29 although they did well, they won against Egypt, won against Mexico, also won against Montenegro recently, 91 to 71.
09:37 You'll be facing Lithuania led by NBA big man Jonas Valens Jonas.
09:41 And they were, as I said, undefeated in Group D.
09:44 What are your thoughts about Lithuania and how confident are you that you will get the win hopefully tomorrow when you take on a really good team in Lithuania, coach?
09:55 We you said it all.
09:57 Lithuania is a great team.
09:59 They play great basketball.
10:00 I think that we have to agree that in here in Manila and that gym, United States of America and Lithuania, they play the best basketball so far.
10:11 They're the best rebounding team, their best defending team.
10:15 And they do have six players that they compete in EuroLeague, six players in the same team with the same coach and the same coaching staff as Algeres.
10:26 With the addition of Valens Jonas, that we all know who he is and what he what point of emphasis is in the paint and in general with his presence
10:36 doing a multiple job defensively and offensively.
10:41 And obviously, they are the favorites.
10:43 They stick together for a long time.
10:45 This is the same group of people.
10:47 They do miss also some significant players, as is Sabonis, for instance.
10:52 But they play good. They play great basketball.
10:56 I really appreciate that.
10:58 Actually, I really respect the way they play the game of basketball.
11:03 But it's one game. So we're going to we're going to see our odds.
11:06 We already start to build our strategy with the coaching staff and we're going to give our fights.
11:12 And we said that we're not going to hopefully have to come back again for minus 15 because Lithuania is a different team to, you know, to compete.
11:23 And we cannot allow that to ourselves.
11:26 We have to stick to the plan and compete to the highest level.
11:30 Sure. Well, coach, before we let you go, I just want to ask you this.
11:35 Give me a team that you wish you had a chance to play against here in the World Cup.
11:40 It could be from any group in the tournament.
11:42 Was there a... Did you want to play the Philippines?
11:45 Any team that you wanted to play here in the World Cup?
11:49 Well, I don't like the if questions.
11:52 You know, I like to live in reality.
11:54 But in order to help you with your question, I watched the first game that the Philippines played in front of the 50,000 spectators.
12:03 And that was an amazing, amazing audience.
12:08 That's what basketball means. Obviously, if we can have the full James and people that they like the sport, that's that's great.
12:17 So unfortunately, the Philippines are not going further.
12:23 But the love for basketball over here, it's obvious.
12:27 And, you know, I wish the Philippines only the very best.
12:33 Coach, thank you so much again for being here on the show.
12:37 I hope I can say this right.
12:40 Did I say it right? Thank you.
12:42 In Greek?
12:43 Efcharisto. Yes.
12:44 Efcharisto. Thank you.
12:45 Efcharisto, thank you so much.
12:47 Maraming salamat for being on the show.
12:49 And hopefully you come by again here live at the studio when you win and bring Thanasis and the team.
12:55 Thank you so much. Efcharisto.
12:57 That was Coach Dimitris Itoudis, head coach of the Greece men's basketball team.
13:03 Moving on to the round of 16.
13:05 Thank you, Coach.