Peristeri ready for new European adventure
More than a decade since their last European adventure, Peristeri are back in European competition as the club prepares to compete in the 2019/2020 edition of the Basketball Champions League...
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Peristeri’s revival in recent seasons will add a new chapter in the coming week as the club closes in on its return to European competition next week in the Basketball Champions League.
Once a regular representative in Europe, Peristeri haven’t competed in European competition since financial troubles at the club led to Peristeri’s relegation from the top flight ahead of the 2004/2005 season.
A further relegation to the third tier of Greek basketball just two years later saw the club hit rock-bottom just 24 months after featuring in the first-ever FIBA Europe League.
Peristeri would mark a return to the top flight of Greek basketball during the 2009/2010 season. Despite a strong first two seasons back in the top flight, Peristeri flirted with relegation during the 2011/2012 season before finally facing the drop to the second tier just one year later.
It was double trouble for the club just 12 months later as a further relegation to the third tier meant the club that had fought through a previous collapse were back to the same difficult situation.
Peristeri’s drop to the Greek B Basket League seemed to be a rallying point for the Kyanokitrini as the club earned back-to-back promotions in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 to make a top flight return last season.
Now, Peristeri are looking to add to the momentum of back-to-back promotions and an impressive fourth-place finish in the Basket League last season. The club will be hoping to do Greece proud as one of the three representatives from the nation to feature in the upcoming Basketball Champions League.
Peristeri will face a tough task of reaching the knockout round as the club find themselves in a tricky group that includes former competition winners Iberostar Tenerife and last year’s semifinalists Brose Bamberg.
While Peristeri remain well-off the quality of the side that used to feature regularly in the EuroLeague at the start of the century, it’s an encouraging sign for fans of the club that Peristeri have battled their way back to European competition more than a decade since their last European adventure.
