After a season marked by injuries, the Panathinaikos veteran forward continues to be a key factor in the postseason.
Ioannis Papapetrou: 'I'm in the best shape of my life'
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Ioannis Papapetrou returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2017, and made sure his presence was noticed when Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens topped Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 73-57 in the semifinals.
Papapetrou joked about his time away from the Final Four the day before the game. "It feels great. I hope it doesn't take another seven years because I will be too old for the next one!" he kidded.
Once he stepped on the court, Papapetrou was ready to deliver as he has done often lately. After averaging 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in nine regular season games, Papapetrou left his injuries behind, averaging 10.0 points on 57.9% three-pointers and 2.4 rebounds in the five-game playoff series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.
"Everybody understands that what I've been through and the situation, how it goes. But in moments like this, I understood that I had to run a marathon the fastest that I could. And this marathon was to come back to the best shape that I can," Papapetrou said after the game. "And I feel like I am now in a great shape. I said that before even the playoffs. I feel in good shape, I feel healthy, I feel that I'm giving everything that I can. I honestly feel like I'm in the best shape of my life and, I have sacrificed a lot."
Papapetrou got the ball rolling early with a mid-range jumper and didn't stop after that, serving as the Greens' s-factor again with 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a PIR of 11. Down the stretch, he picked up a 50-50 ball and flexed his right arm to ignite the green sector in the crowd. He immediately drew an unsportsmanlike foul on Nick Calathes that allowed Panathinaikos to seal the outcome.
Papapetrou is now going to his third championship game, after previous experiences with Olympiacos Piraeus in 2015 and 2017, but he'll be looking for his first EuroLeague title. Of course, he believes that third time's a charm.
"I understand that I'm prepared. I understand that the team is prepared. I know that all that matters is to go in and give everything. If the shots fall, if the shots don't fall, it doesn't matter. You have to play hard and always the next play is more important in these games," he said. "If we give everything and we put our heart and soul in the game, I will be very proud with all the results.
"Having said that, let's go to win the EuroLeague."