By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos AKTOR is back in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four and is having a great overall season. Ergin Ataman is leading the team.
Speaking to the Turkish outlet Fanatik, Ataman discussed various topics and emphasized the belief in the Final Four within the club since day one.
“Panathinaikos fans believed in me from the first day. Maybe we didn’t start the season very well, but even in those days, we had faith that we would reach our goal. The belief of the fans on the streets and in the stands, the whole community’s belief in us, also motivated us even more. We were able to focus more easily. Yes, Panathinaikos hasn’t been to the Final Four for 12 years, but they have a basketball culture. They have championships in their history. That made our job easier,” said Ergin Ataman.
He also discussed the team’s changes and investments.
“Of course, I didn’t achieve this alone. My players, the club, and President Giannakopoulos achieved it. He believed in us from the first day. We only kept Grigonis besides the young players and changed the whole squad. When we made a lot of transfers, everyone thought we were spending a lot of money. We only gave an astronomical amount to Sloukas. We had to. We took their most important player. They weakened, and we strengthened. We also used the remaining budget extremely efficiently. I think the most important thing is that the club is not in the red. Success has increased revenues. With sponsorships, TV, and ticket revenues, the budget is balanced. I think this is a subject that needs to be emphasized.”
Ataman also addressed the presence of three teams known for their fan support in the Final Four:
After the loss against Maccabi Tel Aviv at the start of the Playoff series, the Turkish coach said he would leave his post if the team didn’t make it to the Final Four.
“I was very disappointed after we lost the first match against Maccabi. Because we had focused so much on success lately, I would be very upset if we couldn’t make it to the Final Four. Actually, even if we couldn’t make it to the Final Four, the club was aware of how big of a success we had achieved. We took the team from 17th place to 2nd place. When I felt disappointed, I said, ‘If we can’t make it to the Final Four, I won’t be here next year,’ to motivate my players. This motivated everyone even more. Losing the first match at home in this series is a big disadvantage. But we managed to bounce back. A great bond has already formed between the president, the club, and me. I think I will stay here for many years,” Ergin Ataman concluded.