Nestoras Kommatos, the first Greek player to ever play in Maccabi and the X-factor of the 2005 EuroLeague finals, in an interview about the winning the second championship in a row, coach Sfairopoulos and the fans: “Everything was yellow, a tremendous show of strength”
“We waited the whole year for the final four, we played for it”, Nestoras Kommatos said to the Maccabi official website. “We were focused on our goal, all the players. When we got there- to Moscow- we got the job done. After our semifinal we heard that CSKA lost to Tau, we all looked at each other and said: ‘we’re the champs, we’re not going to lose in the finals’ and so it was”.
“In the last game I was injured and I got two shots, but I played”, Nestoras added. “To me it doesn’t matter if I played one minute of 40, I knew that I will give my heart on the court, in my mind I was already a champ and I just had to make sure that it’ll happen and to get the recognition for it”.
A quick look at Wikipedia shows that you’re still an active player…
You came to Maccabi as the Greek league top scorer, do you remember how you got here? How did it happened?
“In late August, I think it was on the 30th, I talked with Pini Gershon who wanted to sign me, I told him it is a great honor for me and that I’ll do whatever it takes, I just want to come and play. That’s what happened, I came to play”.
Who was your best friend in Maccabi?
“From the top, players wise – Saras and Parker, owners wise Shimon and David Federman – to everyone on the staff – everyone was equal we were a family”, Kommatos stated. “I have to point out the logistics manger Ami Bitton who is my good friend till this day. He was the first person I met in Israel and also ‘Eliko’ (i.e. Eli Netanel). When someone had a birthday we all celebrated together, everything was together it was amazing”.
When Maccabi arrive to Moscow to complete the Back 2 Back mission, what is the your most memorable moment from the atmosphere in Moscow?
You were the first Greek player to ever play in Maccabi, you were followed by Sofo and Papaloukas, and today there’s an assistant coach and a coach coming from Greece. How do people see coach Giannis Sfairopoulos in Greece?
You’re still in touch with people from Maccabi. To your opinion what connects the Greeks and the Israelis so naturally?
“Maccabi is one of the best and biggest clubs in Europe, people put their families and their lives aside for Maccabi”, Nestoras emphasized. “When I see that, as a player it makes me put that extra effort for them. If the people, the owners leave their families and come to fly with us – it’s amazing. We the players, see it and we give back our soul, and it goes the same way for the fans”.
“When we won and got back to the country, there were so many people, I felt like a rock star, it was crazy”, The Greek added as he also sent a message for the Israeli independence day: “To sum it all, I want to say that I respect and love everyone, it was huge for me to be in Maccabi, It was a significant chapter in my life. I wish everyone health, freedom, fulfillment and success”.
