By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A win-or-go-home Game 5 between Panathinaikos Aktor and Anadolu Efes in OAKA Altion will decide which team will progress to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.
“It will be a tough game,” noted Ergin Ataman, the head coach of the Greens, previewing the next clash with his former team, “All games we played, so far, in this playoff series have been very close. Also, Efes has very experienced players and they fight, but we need to stay calm to play aggressively in defense, to play our game in offense, and win.”
“Both teams have great offensive potential now. Both teams understood their defensive tactics,” added the 59-year-old Turkish boss, “It will be very important to play aggressively for every ball, to try to win all possessions. Get a big synergy with the fans. It will be very important in the home court that everybody focuses on every possession to win the possession. Don’t focus immediately on winning the game. Just focus on winning the possession. Then, at the end, the victory will arrive.”
Panathinaikos grabbed all available tickets for Tuesday’s game in four hours, confirming constant support for the team guided by Ataman.
“It’s not special. Our fans make sure the arena is full. All season was the same,” he said, “Our fans our always with us. But tomorrow, of course, we don’t need a show. We need to fight with them as a sixth player on the court, giving the extra motivation, extra energy for our players, without insulting anybody, without insulting referees or Efes players.”
“We have huge respect for Efes,” he continued in a media session on Monday, “Just to support 100% for our team to play for every possession.”
“Actually, right now, I don’t think about those things, because nobody can cancel my memory and my respect for Efes, all my friends that work there, the club president. We are always with the family,” he referred to his early exit from Game 4 of a best-of-five series, “Unfortunately, fans sometimes do this. But I believe our fans know much more about basketball. They have much more respect for the people. I hope that tomorrow our fans only support us without insulting anybody.”
“I know that Efes was very worried about these situations,” Ataman furthered into the reaction of his former team, “This is life. Sometimes it can happen. I don’t think about this now. I think about the fifth game tomorrow, to play good basketball and win the game.”