2019-10-25T11:00:18+00:00

2019-10-25T11:00:18+00:00

2019-10-25T11:00:19+00:00.

Peristeri in Greek means “Dove” and after a 2-0 start in the Basketball Champions League season, it’s apparent that they can restore old glories

By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net

Alphonso Ford, Marko Jaric, Milan Gurovic, Michael Andersen, Buck Johnson, Audie Norris, and Aggelos Koronios are familiar names to the European basketball lore. And they are all connected by Peristeri BC, having been players of the club.

Located in the suburb with the same name, just five kilometers away from the historic center of Athens, Peristeri is considered one of the hotbeds of producing and grooming up young basketball talent. On the other hand, after 15 years of financial woes, Peristeri is back on the elite for good.

This is not a story about the Greek crisis, but rather about the decline of a club which emerged in the nineties as a significant force in Greek basketball.

After all, the financial troubles that relegated Peristeri appeared back in the 2003-04 season. Peristeri, to make a long story short, overspent to keep up with the big guns and had to dwell in the lower divisions until the summer of 2018.

That’s why choosing the Basketball Champions League financial model was essential to the club, which learned from its past and didn’t want to fall victim to high ambitions again. Mind you, Peristeri wants to be fiscally responsible, but still has the highest of aspirations.

And that’s why they signed an experienced coach like Ilias Zouros, which is also currently the coach of the Georgian national team.

Thanks to a mix of solid local talent, including 2018 Basketball Champions League champions with AEK Vassilis Xanthopoulos and Panagiotis Vassilopoulos, and solid veterans like Will Hatcher and Gonzaga alumni Steve Gray, Peristeri has the core for something big this year.

The 2-0 start in the BCL proves it, and next week’s road game against Iberostar Tenerife will be the ultimate test for the Greeks.

Meanwhile, Peristeri has also beaten on the road another Basketball Champions League contender, AEK, in a game for the Greek league, which included overtime, controversial calls, and ultimately, a 91-90 win for the guests.

“Our goal is to be competitive in every game, and that’s going to be more difficult compared to last year because we also have to respond to the Basketball Champions League challenge,” said Zouros just before the start of the season.

Six official games later, which include also a 4-0 start in the Greek League and a tie with Panathinaikos for the top spot of the standings, it’s obvious that Peristeri loves to be challenged.

alm_page: 1alm_current: 1almitem: 1alm_found_posts: 1