By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Coming back from an 11-point deficit to beat Fenerbahce 74-63, Panathinaikos had a crucial win before the EuroLeague break, with Ergin Ataman raising his fists in the air wishing goodbye to the crowd in OAKA.
Stopping by at the Eurohoops Show, the Turkish head coach reflected on the losses the Greek team suffered before coming back to victory. “Some losses give you more energy. After our defeat against Aris, we understood that even here in our home court, if we are not focused we can’t win”, he said. “Of course, the atmosphere here tonight, related to the match we lost to Aris, was like winter and summer”, he also commented.
Beating Sarunas Jasikevicius’ team wasn’t an easy task for the Greek powerhouse, but they emerged through difficulties with an unexpected protagonist. “I am very satisfied with our reaction. We didn’t start well, but after [Panagiotis] Kalaitzakis came with aggressive defense, putting pressure on [Nick] Calathes, we changed the rhythm of the game”, the former Anadolu Efes head coach said.
Following last night’s victory, Panathinaikos is now 3rd in the EuroLeague standings tied with AS Monaco and Virtus Bologna at 16-10, only two victories behind the 2nd place occupied by Barcelona.
With eight games left after the break in February, the Turkish head coach believes they can come out victorious this season from the EuroLeague Final Four. “Fists raised in OAKA, I hope fists raised in Berlin as well”, Ergin Ataman concluded.