By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes entered the series against Panathinaikos as the underdog, playing the first two games on the road as they clinched a spot in the EuroLeague Playoffs with the 6th seed.
However, losing Game 1 but showing a huge effort and character, they came close to beating the reigning champions in OAKA. Luca Banchi knows his team wasn’t far away from such a success. “Only game 1 in the series, but still enough emotions. Pretty intense approach to the series,” he commented.
“From our side, some peaks and unfortunately some downs. We have to learn how to correct, minimize. We’re playing against the defending champions, against people who know how to punish your mistakes.”
“That’s why we have to be even more demanding. Our effort was important, and our performance for long moments during the game was excellent. But to win here, you have to be perfect,” the Italian head coach summed up in the post-game press conference following Efes‘ first loss in the series.
His words didn’t really differ from what the former he said in the flash interviews right after the final buzzer. “We already proved that in the regular season a good game wasn’t enough. You have to be perfect, continuous. Their talent is also int he capacity to use every chance we offered to win the game.”
Game 2 of the series between Panathinaikos and Anadolu Efes is now set to be played in less than 48 hours, as the Turkish team will visit OAKA once again on April 24 at 20:30 CET
PHOTO CREDIT: Eurokinissi