New coach, same mentality.

That is the position Maroussi Athens find themselves in at the dawn of their EuroCup campaign under Eleftheris Kakiousis.

Greece coach Panagiotis Yannakis had been in charge of the northern Athens team in recent seasons while also coaching Greece during the summers.

This summer, Yannakis led the national side to the final of the FIBA World Championship in Japan and did not return to coach Maroussi.

Kakiousis is a potential Yannakis-in-the-making as the new coach worked under the legendary Greek coach at the Olympics in 2004, the triumphant EuroBasket 2005 and at last summer's World Championship.

		19-year old Petros Noeas is moving into the big leagues in 2006 with Maroussi

And despite the early season disappointment of losing in the Greek Cup semi-finals to juggernauts Panathinaikos, and an opening day A1 League defeat to Larissa, Kakiousis - who coached Iraklis last term - is ready to challenge for honours on domestic and foreign soil.

"I am happy because for the first time after five tough years, I am working for a team that functions without the worries of financial problems," said Kakiousis.

"Because of the people in the administration who run the club well, I will now only have to deal with basketball and not balancing the books and  that suits me.

"With this in mind, I hope that we can continue the exceptional progress that Maroussi has made in the last few years."

Kakiousis admitted his work with Yannakis has helped shape his on court ideas, but he is keen to play his own way just as much.

"My collaboration with Panagiotis Yannakis in the national team is a blessing," he said.

"I absolutely appreciate the work that he has left behind and there are no differences in our general philosophy.

"Each coach simply shapes the way a team plays depending on the material that he has at his disposal.

"Consequently, this year because we have fast guards and not a classic tall guard we will try to play with a more pressing defence and faster tempo.

"Our objectives remain the same - to be a competitive team that will go on the court and try to play attractive basketball.

"As an association, Maroussi has achieved important things. It has played in the final of the Greek Cup, it has won a European trophy (Saporta Cup 2001) and has played in another European final.

"It is not easy to win the championship or the cup. We will be very happy if we can achieve either of those things but what matters more is that we try to do it with the right morals and quality.

"In the second semi-final of the cup match with Panathinaikos, the players gave an amazing reaction. They played without fear and with the spirit of victory. We will need this spirit."

Maroussi, who open their EuroCup Group F campaign away at KK Vojvodina Srbijagas on November 7, have a new-look roster with only six players from their 2005/06 line-up remaining.

With an average age among the squad of just over 24, youth and pace are the main tools at Kakiousis' disposal.

USA pair Roderick Blakney and Jared Homan, and Serbian guard Blagota Sekulic are three players who have left but they have been replaced by Stateside duo Danya Abrams, a 32-year-old forward and veteran of Spanish league wars, and 24-year-old point guard Chris Thomas, 24.

Kakiousis has also brought in 21-year-old Lithuanian guard Renaldas Seibutis.

Maroussi also have two 19-year-olds in their roster in guard Theodoros Tsiotras and forward Petros Noeas, both of who will be itching to make an impact if they are given court time.

Maroussi's biggest loss from those who have departed is Blakney, who joined EuroCup rivals Dynamo Moscow Region.

Blakney, who played 26 games in the Greek League last season and averaged 13.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, was also a vital player in Maroussi's EuroCup campaign last season, averaging 15.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest.

How newcomer Thomas shapes up as his replacement could hold the key to whether Maroussi can challenge for honours.

EuroCup finalists in 2004, when they lost to UNICS Kazan, Maroussi lost 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the same competition to St Petersburg last season.

A strong domestic start last time out saw Maroussi go into the play-offs as one of the favourites, but they fell 3-2 to Olympiacos in the semi finals and went on to lose to Aris by the same margin in the third-place play-off.