New tensions have arisen ahead of the EOK elections, as Panagiotis Fasoulas’s faction, “Basketball First,” announced that the Federation refused to make the “Giorgos Kolokythas” hall available for the meeting scheduled for Friday, November 13.
According to the announcement, the Hellenic Basketball Federation’s reasoning was that its facilities cannot be made available for “pre-election events.” Fasoulas’s camp, however, maintains that it was to be an open discussion to which all candidates for the Federation’s presidency, sports officials, the media, and anyone interested in Greek basketball.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The “Basketball First” faction strongly criticized this decision, linking it to the broader situation prevailing in Greek basketball and referring both to the “Basket-gate” scandal and to the problems facing the associations.
In fact, in its statement, it asks the question “What is the EOK afraid of?” while pointing to a continuation of the practices of the Liolios administration and a “closed-door” approach, rather than seeking dialogue at a critical time for the sport.
Despite the refusal to provide the meeting room, the meeting will take place as scheduled, but at a different location. As announced by Fasoulas’s side, the meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 18, at 5:00 p.m., at the ESIEA offices.
The full statement from the “Basketball First” faction reads as follows:
“The so-called Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) administration refused to make the ‘Giorgos Kolokythas’ for the discussion scheduled by Panagiotis Fasoulas for Friday, November 13, 2026. The excuse is that the Federation’s facilities are not suitable for ‘pre-election events.’ The question that arises is simple: What is the EOK afraid of?
The invitation was addressed to all those wishing to run for the presidency of the EOK, to the sport’s governing bodies (SEPK, PSAC, ESAKE), the media, and anyone who loves basketball. It was not, therefore, a pre-election rally, as the Federation’s alleged administration claims. It was an open and diverse “forum,” with equal opportunities for everyone to express themselves.
In other words, what we see as an opportunity for dialogue at a critical moment for the sport, the so-called administration views as a threat. At a time when the Federation is reeling from the “Basket-gate” scandal and the Associations are struggling to survive, the response is a “no” to dialogue.
Unfortunately, it is proving once again that Liolios’s practices continue to this day. The “closed-door” mentality, it seems, is not easily eradicated. Panagiotis Fasoulas’s initiative is, in essence, an initiative by individuals who are affected by the current state of Greek basketball, and such an initiative should be encouraged, not silenced.
What they didn’t quite anticipate, however, is that we won’t stop. The discussion will take place, with or without the EOK, on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the ESIEA offices, 20 Akademias Street (7th floor, Heraklis Petmezas Hall). We call on the presidential candidates, the representatives of the aforementioned organizations, and the media to attend. Anyone who does not attend would do well to explain to the basketball community why they avoided the discussion.
Panagiotis Fasoulas.”
*photo source: KYPE
