By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Sidelined with an ankle injury over recent days, 30-year-old Cedi Osman has been ruled out by Panathinaikos Aktor for a clash with Partizan Mozzart Bet in Telekom Center Athens on Tuesday.
Fellow Turkish import, Omer Yurtseven, will remain out as well due to a groin injury, alongside Mathias Lessort (ankle surgery) and Richaun Holmes (knee). In contrast, Juancho Hernangomez (back) and Vassilis Toliopoulos (calf) have been cleared to return to action.
“It was a surprise for me as well,” said 59-year-old Ataman on Monday, commenting on the absences of Osman and Yurtseven in Round 13 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season, after previously expecting both of the team to suit up opposite Partizan. “Before practice, I was told by the doctors that they are not ready to play. So, they will not play.”
On the team coached by Zeljko Obradovic, Carlik Jones (foot), Mario Nakic (knee surgery), and Arijan Lakic (shoulder) are stuck on the injury list, but the remaining players are available.
“We have a game coming up against Panathinaikos, a team that maybe has the best roster in the EuroLeague,” mentioned the 65-year-old play-caller before the trip to Athens. “We will have to play at the highest possible level if we want to be competitive in that game and potentially achieve a positive result.”
Ataman, who is also the head coach of the Turkish national team, after the game of Panathinaikos, will have to take over national team duties.
Speaking about this, Ataman expressed his dissatisfaction with the FIBA Windows schedule: “This schedule for national teams is strange. Even if you are a finalist in EuroBasket or third like Greece, you are not guaranteed a place in the World Cup. Now we will have to play with a different roster in the qualifiers. FIBA insists on this schedule, and maybe some very good teams will not qualify for the World Cup. It is ridiculous that these teams are participating in the qualifiers. I wish the Greek team good luck as well.”
Entering Round 13, the Greek side is tied for second behind an 8-4 record, trailing leader Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv by one game. The Serbian side is tied for 17th with a 4-8 tally.