Peristeri B.C.

Peristeri B.C., or Peristeri Athens B.C. (Greek: Περιστερίου K.A.E.) is a Greek professional basketball club that is located in Peristeri, Greece, which is both a city and a suburb in the western part of the Athens agglomeration. The club's full name is Gymnastikos Syllogos Peristeriou K.A.E. (Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος Περιστερίου K.A.E.). It is a part of the G.S. Peristeri (Γ.Σ. Περιστερίου) multi-sports club. The club was founded on October 22, 1971.

The club's emblem is the dove symbol, and the club's team colors are yellow and blue. For the 2023–24 season, the team competes in the Greek Basket League, which is the top-tier level league in Greece, as well as in the European-wide secondary level competition, the FIBA Basketball Champions League (BCL).

Early years and rise of the club
The club began play in the 1971–72 season. In the 1977–78 season, Peristeri Athens won the third level championship of Greek pro basketball, under head coach Faidon Matthaiou. In the 1982–83 season, under head coach Thanasis Christoforou, Peristeri won the second level championship of Greek pro basketball, which was at that time, the Greek B League. In the following 1983–84 season, Peristeri played games for the first time, in the top-tier level Greek Basket League. Peristeri won the Greek 2nd Division championship again, in the 1988–89 season.

In the subsequent years, the team was very successful, and many well-known basketball players played for the club. During this era, Peristeri competed in the European 3rd-tier level FIBA Korać Cup seven times (in the seasons 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1999–00). Well-known players such as: Audie Norris, Marko Jarić, Milan Gurović, Angelos Koronios, Michalis Pelekanos, Kostas Tsartsaris, Alphonso Ford, Benoit Benjamin, Gary Leonard, Randy White, Marlon Maxey, and Conner Henry played for the club in that era.

In the 2000–01 season, led by the great scorer Ford, Peristeri finished in second place in the top-tier Greek League, in the regular season. The club also competed in the European-wide top-tier level EuroLeague competition, during the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons. In the 2002–03 season, Peristeri competed in the European third-tier level FIBA Europe Champions Cup. In the 2003–04 season, the club played in the European 3rd-tier level FIBA Europe League.

Decline of the club
Following the 2003–04 Greek Basket League season, Peristeri was downgraded to the second division Greek A2 League for the 2004–05 season, due to great financial troubles within the Peristeri Sports Club. The club also competed in the Greek 2nd Division in the 2005–06 season. The club was then relegated down to the Greek 3rd Division, for the 2006–07 season. After winning the Greek 3rd Division championship, in the 2006–07 season, Peristeri returned to the Greek 2nd Division, for the 2007–08 season. Peristeri then won the Greek 2nd Division championship, in the 2008–09 season.

Peristeri then competed in the top-tier level Greek 1st Division, in the 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, and 2012–13 seasons. After the 2012–13 Greek Basket League season, Peristeri was again relegated down to the second-tier level Greek A2 League. However, due to economic issues, the club did not take part in the A2 League in the following season, and instead competed in the third-tier level Greek B League, during the 2013–14 season.

Peristeri managed to win the 2014–15 edition of the Greek 2nd-tier level ESKA Cup competition. While in that same 2014–15 season, Peristeri finished in fourth place, in the First Group of the third-tier level Greek B League, and thus did not earn a direct league promotion. Nevertheless, due to the withdrawal of Panionios Athens from the second-tier level Greek A2 League, Peristeri was then promoted back up to the A2 League, as they replaced Panionios in the competition, for the 2015–16 season. However, following that season, the club was relegated back down to the Greek 3rd Division, for the 2016–17 season.

Return to European-wide competitions
Peristeri won the Greek 3rd Division in the 2016–17 season. Then, in the following 2017–18 season, Peristeri won its third Greek 2nd Division championship. The team broke the league's win–loss record during that season, and finished with an overall record of 29 wins and just 1 loss. Thus, the club was promoted up to the top-tier level Greek Basket League, for the 2018–19 season. The return arrival of head coach Argyris Pedoulakis proved to be a key factor for the team. With Pedoulakis coaching, and with a core of quality players, Peristeri finished second in the regular season, and in fourth place overall at the end of the league's playoffs, which thus secured the team's return to European-wide competitions.

The club then joined one of the two European-wide secondary leagues, the FIBA Basketball Champions League (BCL), for the 2019–20 season. The team had a successful BCL season, as they managed to progress to the round of 16 of the FIBA Champions League, where they were ultimately eliminated by the Israeli Super League club Hapoel Jerusalem. Peristeri finished in the third position of the 2019–20 Greek Basket League season, although the Greek League season ended prematurely, in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece.

Peristeri were the finalists of the 2020 edition of the Greek Super Cup competition, after they defeated the Greek EuroLeague giants Panathinaikos Athens, by a score of 90–82 in the semifinals. They lost to Promitheas Patras, by a score of 82–74 in the finals. Peristeri's 2020–21 Greek Basket League season wasn't as successful as the previous one, as they finished in sixth place in the league. In European-wide play, they also competed in the 2020–21 FIBA Champions League season. During that season, the team used three different head coaches. The team also struggled to develop proper player chemistry throughout the duration of the season. Ultimately, Peristeri was unable to match their high points of the previous two seasons.

Under head coach Milan Tomić, Peristeri finished the 2021–22 Greek Basket League season in 8th place. While in Pan-European	competition, they competed in the European-wide fourth-tier level FIBA Europe Cup competition's 2021–22 season. In August 2022, the team was given the new sponsorship name of Peristeri B.C. Athens Bwin, after the club secured a naming rights deal with Bwin, for the purposes of increasing the team's budget, as part of an overall effort by the club to position itself in a higher echelon within the Greek Basket League.

An international legend becomes the head coach
Peristeri hired international basketball legend Vassilis Spanoulis to its head coaching position, for the 2022–23 season. Spanoulis guided the team to its first ever appearance in the Final of the Greek Cup competition. However, they were defeated in the 2022–23 Greek Cup final by the EuroLeague giants Olympiacos Piraeus. In the 2022–23 Greek Basket League season, Peristeri finished in third place in the league, after they beat the Greek Fiba Champions League club PAOK Thessaloniki, in the league's third-place series. During the season, Peristeri managed to beat the EuroLeague giants Panathinaikos Athens, three different times during the overall season. In European-wide play, Peristeri also competed in the 2022–23 FIBA Champions League season, where they were eliminated in the play-ins by the French Pro A League club JDA Dijon, 2–1 in a three game series.

In the 2023–24 FIBA Champions League season, Peristeri had an astonishing year and for the first time in team's history,the team reached the 2024 FIBA Champions League Final Four. In the semifinals, Peristeri was knocked out of the Final Four tournament, after a 97–94 defeat to the Spanish ACB League club Tenerife. Ultimately, Peristeri finished in fourth place in the FIBA Champions League season, after they lost the bronze medal game against the Spanish ACB League club UCAM Murcia, by a score of 87–84. Spanoulis was ultimately named the FIBA Champions League's Best Coach of the Season.

In Greek national domestic competitions, Peristeri made it to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Greek Super Cup competition, where they lost to Olympiacos Piraeus. Peristeri also made it to the quarterfinals of the 2023–24 Greek Cup competition, where they again lost to Olympiacos. In the 2023–24 Greek Basket League season, Peristeri once again finished in third place in the league, after they beat the Greek EuroCup club Aris Thessaloniki, in the league's single third-place match.

In international competitions
From the 1991–92 season, to the 2003–04 season, Peristeri Athens had an overall win/loss record of: 67 wins and 58 losses, plus 1 tie, in a total of 126 games played in all of their European-wide professional club basketball competitions.

Arenas
Peristeri plays its home games at the Peristeri Arena, which has a seating capacity of 4,000 people. The club has also played home games at the Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall.

European competitions

 * FIBA Champions League
 * Final Four (1): 2023–24

Domestic competitions

 * Greek Cup:
 * Finalists (1): 2022–23


 * Greek Super Cup:
 * Finalists (1): 2020


 * Greek A2 League (2nd Division):
 * Champions (3): 1988–89, 2008–09, 2017–18


 * Greek B League (2nd Division / 3rd Division):
 * Champions (3): 1982–83 (2nd Division), 2006–07 (3rd Division), 2016–17 (3rd Division)


 * Greek 3rd Division:
 * Champions (1): 1977–78 (ESKA)


 * Greek 2nd Tier ESKA Cup:
 * Winners (1): 2014–15

Seasons

 * Scroll down to see more.

Notable players
Greece:
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Dimitris Agravanis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Ioannis Athinaiou
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Ioannis Bourousis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Efthimis Bakatsias
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]]-[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Mike Bramos
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Nikos Chougkaz
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Vassilis Christidis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Linos Chrysikopoulos
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Dimitris Despos
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Periklis Dorkofikis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Charis Giannopoulos
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Argiris Kambouris
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Leonidas Kaselakis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Dimitris Katsivelis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Dimitris Kompodietas
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Angelos Koronios
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Georgios Makaras
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Antonis Mantzaris
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Vangelis Mantzaris
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Vangelis Margaritis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Dimitris Mavroeidis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Loukas Mavrokefalidis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Ioannis Milonas
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]]-[[Image:Flag of Canada.svg|20px]] Elijah Mitrou-Long
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Dimitris Moraitis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Vassilis Mouratos
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Christos Myriounis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Manolis Papamakarios
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Dimitris Papanikolaou
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Georgios Papagiannis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Argyris Pedoulakis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Michalis Pelekanos
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Alekos Petroulas
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Michalis Polytarchou
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Christos Saloustros
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Ioannis Sioutis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Gaios Skordilis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Michalis Tsairelis
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Kostas Tsartsaris
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Georgios Tsiakos
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Panos Vasilopoulos
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Vassilis Xanthopoulos
 * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Vangelis Zougris

Europe:
 * [[Image:Flag of Croatia.svg|20px]] Miro Bilan
 * [[Image:Flag of Denmark.svg|20px]] Michael Andersen
 * [[Image:Flag of Serbia.svg|20px]]-[[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Milan Gurović
 * [[Image:Flag of Serbia.svg|20px]]-[[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Marko Jarić
 * [[Image:Flag of Serbia.svg|20px]] Nemanja Dangubić
 * [[Image:Flag of Slovenia.svg|20px]] Jure Močnik
 * [[Image:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] Paolo Moretti
 * [[Image:Flag of France.svg|20px]] Hugues Occansey
 * [[Image:Flag of France.svg|20px]] Sylvain Francisco
 * [[Image:Flag of Russia.svg|20px]]-[[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|20px]] Aleksey Savrasenko
 * [[Image:Flag of Poland.svg|20px]] Tomasz Gielo
 * [[Image:Flag of Poland.svg|20px]] Cezary Trybański

USA:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Benoit Benjamin
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]]-[[Image:Flag of Bulgaria.svg|20px]] Kee-Kee Clark
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Byron Dinkins
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Marcus Denmon
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Alphonso Ford
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Reece Gaines
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Gary Grant
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Steven Gray
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Jaylen Hands
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Ryan Harrow
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Conner Henry
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Buck Johnson
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]]-[[Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg|20px]] Garth Joseph
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Priest Lauderdale
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Gary Leonard
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Jermaine Love
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Audie Norris
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Andre Hutson
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Pete Mickeal
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Marlon Maxey
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Terran Petteway
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]]-[[Image:Flag of Liberia.svg|20px]] Joe Ragland
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Nate Renfro
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Larry Stewart
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Trevor Thompson
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Randy White
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] Kenny Williams

Africa:
 * [[Image:Flag of Angola.svg|20px]] Yanick Moreira
 * [[Image:Flag of Ghana.svg|20px]] Ben Bentil