Former University of Kentucky and Louisville Coach, Rick Pitino, led Panathinaikos to the Greek League Title on Friday.
The Greens jumped out a 16-2 run and led 62-34 at the half while cruising to a 111-77 win over Promitheas Patras. Six players were in double figures as Panathinaikos got a sweep in the best of five finals.
This was the team’s third consecutive league title and the 38th overall. It was the first for Coach Pitino. After the game he said he has to think about whether or not he’ll return to the team. “I’ll go to New York. I have it all planned, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday to speak to all my children. If I can get them on board, I will return. If I can’t get them on all on board, then I won’t. It’s very simple. We are a very strong family. Like the Greek families. It’s got to be one for all and all for one,” Pitino said in his post-game statements to Kostas Katevas of Cosmote TV.
Pitino proceeded to say that if he returns to Panathinaikos then there won’t be any college basketball for him anymore. “You have to understand is that if I come back, I give up college basketball forever. It could never happen because I couldn’t leave Panathinaikos for a college in March or April. If I come back, it’s Panathinaikos and then death.”
