GRE - P. Vassilopoulos: "We don't even know our own limits"!

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualfying Tournament) - Panagiotis Vassilopoulos is known as Greek basketball's "gold coin"!

Counting 5 medals in his personal collection, as a player for the national team, the 24year-old forward of Olympiakos, gazes upon Beijing in his horizon and hopes for yet another great honor.

In his career, Vassilopoulos can proudly flaunt, in order of succession, the bronze medal in the European Championship U18 in 2003, the silver medal in the FIBA World Championship U20 in 2005, the gold medal in the European Championship in 2005 and the silver medal in the FIBA World Championship in 2006! After all this, his internal aspiration to flourish his collection with an Olympic medal is utterly understandable.

A few minutes after the buzzer of the game between Greece and Puerto Rico, Vassilopoulos stressed:

About the National team's potential:

"We honestly can't have any way of knowing where our limits lye. This team has proven that it is worthy of greatness. We soared to the top of Europe in 2005 and a year later we almost climb to the top of the world. We don't like to set a specific goal before even playing. We prefer to take things one game at a time".

About the Olympic Tournament:

"When you are part of a team with high targets, you must adopt the mentality that you can face any rival. When we are on a good day, we are able to beat any team and this is not all talk, we have proved so. What's in my mind now, is that we should have fun and live this experience intensely".

About the possibility to come up against the USA national team:

"I'm fed up hearing the Americans talk about our prevalence over them back in 2006. We have got over it and we are looking ahead. If it's such an issue for them, let them say and do whatever they please. When you stick to just one game, you miss out on the real essence of things".

About his feelings in view of his participation in the Olympic Games:

"I can't wait to be a part of the festivities and I wish to live it to its fullest. From the opening parade and living in the Olympic village until the closing ceremony. It will be my first participation in the Olympic Games and I want to make the most of it. Already I have decided to begin… seminars on the subject, asking the more experienced, that took part in 2004, how they felt. I hope that everything will be perfect".

About the fans presence at the OAKA stadium:

"Simply unbelievable. Nothing can give you greater joy than being able to bring this entire crowd to the arena and offer them as much satisfaction as possible. Honestly, all of us love to see such images".

About the National team's outstanding performance:

"It might have been said all too much, but really, everything commences from teamwork. I can't lie; we had a much easier qualification than what we expected, mostly due to being able to pose our rhythm in the games. Our initial instinct leads us to enjoy the game and that his why we bring out the best in us, on the court. We know each other very well up to now and this is something easily spotted on the court. Our coach has allowed us to unleash all aspects of our talent in the game and moreover we have started to play with greater velocity".

About Panagiotis Yannakis:

"He's the best and we feel proud to have him on our side. He is a great help to us, whilst we share great chemistry. He expresses us both on and off the court"...

LOC Press Office