Aris BSA 2003: coach Katsikaris replaces Mazzon

Aris BSA 2003 found a new coach in Fotis Katsikaris, who inked a two-year deal with his new club on Tuesday. Katsikaris, age 42, arrives from Pamesa Valencia, where he was released early last season. In his two years in Valencia, Katsikaris helped Pamesa to get consecutive playoff appearances and also made it to the 2008 ULEB Cup Final Eight. He has also coached Dynamo St. Petersburg in Russia and AEK in Greece. He helped AEK to make it to the Euroleague Top 16 and the Greek League finals in 2005. As AEK's assistant coach, Katsikaris won the 2000 Saporta Cup, the 2002 Greek League and also lifted the Greek Cup trophy in 2000 and 2001. After losing their chance to return to the Euroleague together in Qualifying Round 1, Aris and head coach Andrea Mazzon had parted ways earlier on this week. Aris won the first game of its Qualifying Round 1 series with fellow-Greek rival Maroussi BSA 2003 by 69-67 at home in Thessaloniki on Tuesday. Three days later, however, Maroussi overwhelmed Aris 89-60 to run away with the series victory and advance to Qualifying Round 2, whose series winners will play in the Euroleague. Aris will play in the Eurocup. The next day, Mazzon and Aris agreed mutually to stop their contract. It marks the end of Mazzon's second stint with Aris. He first coached the team from December 2005 to June 2007, making it as far as the ULEB Cup finals in 2006. In the Euroleague the next season, 2006-07, Mazzon led Aris to the Top 16. In last season's Eurocup, however, Aris did not survive the six-game regular season. Mazzon has also coached for Panionios in Greece, as well as for Verona, Jesi, Imola, Napoli and Fortitudo Bologna in his native Italy.