SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA LAGUNA (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Georgios Bogris will forever have a historic title to relish and remember, and now the Iberostar Tenerife center hopes the inaugural Basketball Champions League crown can lead him back to the Greece national team for the FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

Bogris was named to the Star Lineup selection team for Basketball Champions League this season as he played a major role in helping Tenerife to a 63-59 win over Banvit in the final, contributing 2 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist.

"This title means a lot for the player Bogris, because he established himself at a high level and because it will push him to work harder to experience moments like this again, because this is why he is playing," Bogris said.

"But on the other hand, this title means much more to the person George, me, because it gave me peace, happiness and great memories to follow me forever."

He continued about his feelings following the crown: "The best feeling … is the peace you have with yourself knowing that you made it. That all those years of hard work, of pressure, all those years away from your home, paid off. And worth every penny because the memories from this success will follow us for life and this is unique."

This was Bogris' third season in Spain and first with Tenerife. It came on the heels of him making his debut with the Greek senior national team last summer, playing at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2016 in Italy - the first time he played for Greece since the FIBA U20 European Championship 2009.

"Just pure joy! I was a part of the youth national teams since I was 14 years old, and I am 'addicted' to the blue color. It's pride to be a part of the national team, to represent your country. It was something I really wanted. It was a dream for me, or a goal if you prefer," said Bogris, who was 27 when he made that senior team debut.

The Athens native has put together an excellent season as a strong contributor to a championship-winning team. And Bogris will forever be ready to serve Hellas if he receives the call.

"First of all, I wish to be a member of the national team. It's not something that anyone should or could take for granted. When you get called to the national team, the only goal from that moment on is to help the team. Anyway you can, on and off the court.

"I believe that this year in Tenerife has helped me a lot in many ways. I am more experienced, I have a different role, I feel better than ever and I know I can help both on and off the court; because it's important for a team to build strong relationships also off the court in order to succeed."

When asked how much he is thinking about playing for Greece at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, Bogris said: "A lot…it's my wish and my goal to be there. It would be great for me to be there, to spend my summer with the national team, to get to another big event."

"I believe that this year in Tenerife has helped me a lot in many ways. I am more experienced, I have a different role, I feel better than ever and I know I can help both on and off the court; because it’s important for a team to build strong relationships also off the court in order to succeed."Georgios Bogris

Greece have been drawn into Group A in Helsinki with hosts Finland, France, Poland, Iceland and Slovenia. Even though the Greek team finds itself in a change of generations, expectations in Athens, Thessaloniki and elsewhere remain high.

"It would be good to say we don't care about anything, let's just go and see. But the national team is 'doomed' to succeed. People love this team, we love this team and we want it to be at the top again. I think we have the armory to do just that. And we certainly will try with this mixture of young guys and more experienced guys. We want that, but we have to work for it."

Bogris calls himself a "soldier" for the national team and he will be there whenever he is called. If he is called to Greece this summer again, he will have the experience of being a leader on a European club competition championship-winning team to be help him that much more.

FIBA