Ergin Ataman spoke at the press conference after Panathinaikos’ game against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Game 5 of the EuroLeague quarterfinals.
“I am proud of all my players, fans, and the club, starting from the president and all the people who believed in us from day one. We have done a great job, and thanks to all the people in Turkey, President Erdogan, who called me immediately. This is more than a success, it is the greatest contribution and gesture of friendship between Greece and Turkey. All respect to Maccabi Tel Aviv, because they played a good series, resisted for 35 minutes. Nevertheless, we found a way to win,” said Ataman.
About saying on November 11th that we would be in the Final Four
“Very strange. From the first day, even though we didn’t start well, everyone believed in me and told me that we would be in the Final Four, those who met me on the street. Then I started to believe that we would do it. I believe in people, in my players. Especially in the second half of the EuroLeague, I told the players that if we finish second in the regular season, we will reach the Final Four. We are one of the best defensive teams, we have talent in offense. That’s why I believed in all of this.”
About Berlin as the Final Four location
“I believe we will have great support, depending on who our opponent will be. Regardless of how many there are, our fans are incredible. After the game in Belgrade, they told me that 82,000 people were waiting to buy tickets for this game. I saw that for the first time in my life. They followed us everywhere. There were even those who told me they had already bought tickets for Berlin earlier. I am happy for them.”
Monaco or Fenerbahce
“I don’t have the chance to choose, I have great respect for all the teams that will play tomorrow. The most important thing is that Panathinaikos is in the Final Four after 12 years. I would like to thank the coaching staff, starting from the first assistant, everyone did a great job. I hope Paris, a member of the staff, will recover soon. He had a heart attack and is still in intensive care. I am proud that people believed in me, and we succeeded. Of course, our job is not done. We want to reach the final, and when we play it, we will want even more.”
Kostas Sloukas and Kendrick Nunn
“I don’t know about Nunn. I know the club talked to his agent. We like him, and I hope he stays. Sloukas had problems with his calf, he will rest for a few days. We have league games that don’t affect our position. He will be ready for the Final Four because he has to make up for last season.”
Juancho Hernangomez and Ioannis Papapetrou
“They were scared because of Papapetrou’s situation, he was injured for a long time. But I believed in him, and we knew that when it mattered most, he would show up, which he did in this series. Juancho had two tough weeks, with a serious illness, and he wanted to come back, he asked to play. That’s the locker room, the feeling between the team and the club,” concluded Ergin Ataman.
Panathinaikos thus becomes the second team to qualify for the Final Four in Berlin after Real Madrid.
G A M E O V E R@nunnbetter_#paobc #EuroLeague pic.twitter.com/CMQiwOF6dG
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) May 7, 2024