PAOK head coach Pantelis Boutskos, speaking after PAOK’s win over UCAM Murcia, stated:
“Many congratulations to our players. They made a great effort to come back and beat an excellent team. We have great respect for Murcia, for everything they have achieved this season — they are above Barcelona and Baskonia, level on wins with Valencia, and they haven’t lost in this competition since October.
We put in a huge defensive effort and played with a clear plan. You saw how intense the game was. Both teams struggled from three-point range, which added more tension on both sides. We certainly keep the win, but we know that we have a very demanding second leg ahead. Murcia is a very strong organization; at home they play even harder and with greater confidence.
We must manage our fatigue — you know how demanding our schedule is — and focus first on the league game on Saturday, and then travel to Spain for a very tough rematch. I would like to sincerely thank our fans for their support. Their energy was tremendous; they were the X-factor that helped our players make that defensive push in the second half.
PAOK is its people. Players and coaches borrow some of that pride, that aura and greatness from those who represent it. The challenge is whether they will leave their mark as warriors or as visitors, depending on the respect they show and the passion with which they serve the team. We are in the anniversary month of the club’s 100 years, and it is truly very important to feel this support and receive such a boost from our fans.”
On whether PAOK proved with this win that qualification is achievable, he said:
“We have an outstanding locker room. Our mindset is that in basketball you have 40 minutes to prove that you are better and can win the game. We asked the players to go beyond their limits in order to compete with such an excellent team. From there, to play in a targeted way, to try to create advantages for ourselves and put the opponent at a disadvantage.
The players deserve a lot of credit, because we know how good Murcia is, but we also know what awaits us there, and we will have to play even better to reach the finals.”
On Koniaris’ limited playing time, he commented:
“With Ben Moore, we have tried this plan many times. He has the ability to create, gives us composure, and can relieve pressure from the guards. Koniaris is not at 100% after his injury. It was my decision to play a different style. Antonis is making a tremendous effort to return to his maximum level, and I have great confidence in him.”
On what PAOK should expect in the second game, he said:
“Murcia is an organization making huge strides. They have an excellent coach, quality on the perimeter and near the basket, and a very strong home court. We need to stay highly focused, execute all the details correctly, and be precise in our tactics.
It’s one game, 40 minutes away from the final. In these do-or-die games, people say whoever wants it more will win — I don’t fully believe that. You must play hard, with focus, intelligence, and one for another. In modern basketball, momentum can change very easily — in two minutes, a 10-point lead can disappear.
There is a very fine line: when you create open shots but miss them, how focused you remain, how you don’t break, but stay ready for the next shot. Psychology plays a huge role in sports, so it will be a very tough battle with details we must take care of. Our spirit and determination to reach the final must be at the maximum level, and if we perform like we did in the second half, good things can happen.
We definitely need to play better. They have a very good coach and will be highly motivated on their home court.”