PAOK head coach Pantelis Boutskos, following the game against Maroussi Chery and the completion of the Stoiximan GBL regular season with the team finishing in 3rd place, stated:
“Many congratulations to our players and the entire staff, who have worked tirelessly over the past period. PAOK had not finished the regular season in 3rd place for several years. It may have seemed at some point that we were moving away from that goal, but we truly believed in it. We set our objective, one game at a time, and believed that if we stayed committed to this mindset, good things could happen.
What matters now is to focus on the next game ahead of us. It’s a big challenge for us to bring a trophy back to Thessaloniki. This journey over the past two months has not been easy, as we had to manage fatigue and games where winning was a must. We achieved it without any collateral losses, going through three very demanding series in Europe. Everything we’ve done so far says a lot about the character of this team.
What remains is to prepare step by step for the Final. Bilbao is a great team—we saw how much they upgraded their roster compared to last year. We expect a tougher battle in the second game. In a final, the only thing you think about is how to win the trophy.”
When asked whether he sees his players fully locked in ahead of the Bilbao game, he said:
“We have built a very special communication code with the players. The challenges were significant in order to stay focused on each next game. You have to live in the moment, in the present, and do your job. To win finals, you must respect every simple step in that direction. Within this communication code, our focus has always been on what lies ahead of us.”
Responding to a question about whether all his players are giving something extra for the team, he emphasized:
“We are in 2026—basketball is a players’ game. Every coach must be passionate about the process—about how to bring out the best version of each player. Communication is what separates a great team from a good one. Only in this way can talent flourish.
We have players with experience and others with great motivation. We need to find the right chemistry for proper human management, always with enthusiasm. We have players with very unique characteristics and personalities. We try to guide the game methodically, toward the areas where we can create an advantage.”