By Antonis Stroggylakis / info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman criticized the decision of Anadolu Efes – and coach Luca Banchi in particular – to practice at the Peace and Friendship arena of Olympiacos Piraeus instead of the Greens’ OAKA on the eve of Game 1 of the EuroLeague playoffs.
“The only thing I’d like to say is to my friend Luca Banchi… I hate the people that smile in front of your face and then make some things behind of you to show something,” Ataman said in the post-game presser after Panathinaikos win in Game 1. “Luca you can ask your players who I worked with at Efes for five years. Ask them if I ever showed them any video from a practice of the opposing team. What’s the reason you didn’t come to practice in OAKA and went to practice at Olympiacos‘ arena in Piraeus.”
As is customary before EuroLeague games, visiting teams practice in the arena of their opponent. In a very unusual decision, Efes held its major training session ahead of Game 1 at Olympiacos‘ home court in Piraeus.
“I worked in this club [Efes] for five years. Ask your players like Shane Larkin or Elijah Bryant,” Ataman, whose tone was becoming progressively angrier, then added. “Ask them if one day I showed them practice from camera. Ask them and [if they say yes], tomorrow I’ll resign from coaching basketball. Go and practice at Olympiacos tomorrow too.”
Earlier, Ataman was heard shouting presumably to the refs during Banchi’s flash interview.
Ataman then commended Panathinaikos forward Juancho Hernangomez who delivered a powerful all-around contribution of career-highs 20 points and 16 rebounds, along with three assists, three steals and two blocks.
The Spanish player spent 39:04 on the court.
“Juancho had a great performance tonight,” Ataman said. “He stayed on the floor 39 minutes. It was very good for us of course. But he played Dinos Mitoglou’s minutes also. Players like Mitoglou need to give more in this kind of games. I hope he’ll wake up and give some rest to Juancho.”
“Congratulations to Juancho for his hustle,” Ataman added. The pun was probably unintentional, yet cool nonetheless.