ATHENS (Greece) - There couldn't be the Basketball Champions League Final Four, powered by SUNEL, without the annual Pre-Tournament Press Conference.
It all started on Thursday morning, with Dimitris Flionis welcoming everybody to Athens as AEK Betsson BC's captain.
"We are really excited to host the BCL Final Four, and to be a part of it. For me personally, it's really important to come back after five years to this big stage," he opened.
He has been there since 2021, and he's finally getting to the checkered flag.
"It was a goal we were trying to achieve all those years. We fought for it and we made it."
"Now the fun starts."
Galatasaray's captain Goksenin Koksal will also experience his first-ever BCL Final Four.
"It's my dream to get this cup, it's the first time we are here," the Turkish player started.
Not only debutants, as former winners of the competition like Marcelinho Huertas from La Laguna Tenerife and Alberto Diaz from Unicaja joined as well.
"We will be ready to deliver, we just have to be focused. Hopefully, this year we will bring our A-game," the Brazilian veteran commented.
"It's true that we have a little bit more pressure, but we take it for enjoyment, to motivate us. It's not gonna be easy, but we're ready for battle," the reigning champion from Malaga followed.
The battle will be played in front of a sold-out crowd, in a packed SUNEL Arena in Athens on Friday night.
"The gym is gonna be packed. Our fans have brought a lot of energy; the whole season, they have been supporting us. It's gonna be a crazy atmosphere," Flionis said.
Alberto Diaz experienced playing at home two years ago.
"It's true that in your home, you can feel this kind of pressure. Maybe that's the best practice for the environment we're going to expect," he said.
"It's a big challenge to play against the champions, they are a tough team to play against. They proved it in the last few years. For us, it doesn't change anything. No matter who the opponents are, we try to approach it in the same way. I expect a fight, I hope we advance to the final", the Greek captain also said.
"I think the level is increasing year after year. We know how hard it is to arrive at the BCL Final Four; teams built to be here were left out, and this year it comes with the opportunity of equal chances of winning. All teams have great talent, hunger, and are going through great moments as well," Huertas also commented.
Head coaches take the stage
Just like it happened previously with his captain, AEK's head coach and long-time experienced tactician Dragan Sakota took the stage to speak upon hosting the event at home. Something that they didn't expect at the beginning of the season.
"We didn't have the goal to be at the BCL Final Four from the beginning, but we are very happy to participate one more time," Sakota said.
"Everybody knows my relationship with AEK."
They will go up against the reigning champions, an inspiring team.
"I had in my mind the idea of becoming like Malaga one day. If we talk about them in the last two years, we know how well they have been playing, winning five trophies, and having 18 consecutive wins. We are gonna face an unbelievably good team."
Ibon Navarro joined him, who had already beaten him when he was coaching UCAM Murcia in 2018, once again in Athens.
"My last experience here wasn't so good. We know that we play against a team that play attractive basketball, they are siper dangerous. It's always an honor to face Coach Sakota."
"We felt more pressure last year in Belgrade, due to our disappointing performance in the BCL Final Four in Malaga. When you get trophies, it gives you a different way to approach this tournament," Navarro added.
They were joined by the other two opponents in the first of two Semi-Finals, scheduled on May 9 at 17:00 CET: Galatasaray's Yakup Sekizkok and La Laguna Tenerife's Txus Vidorreta.
"We are really proud to be here," the Turkish head coach opened.
"At the beginning of the season, we said that our goal was to qualify for the BCL Final Four. We played good basketball in important games."
"We are facing a really experienced team and club, with a good roster and a great coach. We respect them, but now that we are here, it's a good time for us to take our goal beyond this and aim for the cup. We have the strength to go all the way, and we will do our best this weekend."
The winningest coach in BCL history is also focused on the big prize, potentially having the opportunity to lift the trophy for the third time.
"When you arrive here, you're not thinking about the legacy, but about this BCL Final Four, this title, and especially the first opponent: Galatasaray," Vidorreta first commented.
"We are only thinking about Friday. If we are thinking all week, we're surely wrong. Step by step, game by game, and of course, very happy to be here again."
The Pre-Tournament Press Conference was a good occasion to announce Galatasaray's absences as well.
"Unfortunately, Can Korkmaz and Rob Gray are here with us in Athens, but they are not gonna play. We have other minor injuries, but all other players are ready to play," Sekizkok said.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to Athens, to the most-anticipated weekend of the year, where not always the best team on paper comes out on top. Dragan Sakota knows it well.
"Participating in a competition like this isn't like playing in a league. In a Final Four, it's about the momentum and who chases it. Everything is on your side, but you can't predict everything. I believe everybody has a chance, but the one who won the last time is the favorite," he said about Unicaja.
"For us, the year is already successful, everybody agreed about it. Now it's some kind of bonus, it's a reward. It's not an excuse, we have to be realistic. But we will try everything."
The last time AEK reached the Basketball Champions League Final in Athens, they celebrated with a black-and-gold wave.
"I try not to compare things, it's not useful. It's going to be full, the atmosphere will be very similar. I'd say we had many more weapons in 2018 than now, a lot of players who won titles before".
Whatever the result is, everybody can agree on this season's Basketball Champions League Final Four, powered by SUNEL, being one of the most competitive in the competition's history.
"The level in the Final Fours has always been great, but for the first time, we have four titles and three champions here. As a competition and organization, we are better every year," Vidorreta concluded.