“I am very happy about the victory, especially when we came to the game after a tough week with tough losses. In the last week, we lost our way, our energy, but we responded the right way. I am proud of the players; we stuck to the game plan.
We deserved a better result in the first half, they scored 36 points with 13 offensive rebounds. We played against a physical and good team, stuck to the game plan, and returned to our basics in attack. We had flow, we moved the ball. We proved ourselves again that when we are focused and together, with the right body language, we are a challenging team to beat.
We need to say things as they are, we experienced a certain crisis, an identity crisis, one could say. We lacked energy, that’s the way to get out of it, especially against such an opponent, to make such a victory. We proved to ourselves that when we are concentrated and together, with the right body language, we are a good basketball team, and it is very important, especially looking ahead with a crazy game schedule.
We play almost every day for an extended period, and this was an important victory before Nes Ziona, and a double week in Spain. This victory gave us a bit of confidence back, returned us to our basics, and I am very happy.”
Gameplan against Panathinaikos
“We knew who we were playing against and how they defend, that’s why we went with Jake. We have 12 players that we need to choose from in each game, there are times when we go with such a lineup or another, and we felt right that Jake could punish in certain places. Against another team, it could be another player.
That’s why we have such a squad. I genuinely think that what we experienced since the unique loss against Partizan is not related and not dependent on such a player or another. It’s something team-related that we experienced, and this was our opportunity in today’s victory to look forward, regain confidence, and put things behind us. It’s going to be a crazy game schedule.
We shortened the rotation, some players played a little more, and that’s how I felt right to do. As a team, we were there, it could be felt that even when they returned to the game, we did things right. They made big shots and punished us on offensive rebounds, they have tall players, and they have one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the EuroLeague. We managed to overcome their runs. This victory will give us confidence”
After the game, Katash revealed how difficult it was for him to cope with the death of Lior Lubin, his good friend, who passed away this week at the age of only 46 after battling cancer.
“It’s hard for me with Lior Lubin’s story in an extraordinary way,” Katash said. “I have three older sisters at home; Lior is like my little brother and sometimes like my big brother. The last period has been very difficult for me, especially in the last two weeks. I felt like I was breathing his breath every day and fighting with him together. Lior is a hero, Lior is a role model. I know exactly what Lior would want me to continue doing, and I will draw strength from that memory, and he will always be with me in my heart. It was emotional today, and it’s not simple. I loved him, and I still love him.“