By Michalis Gioulenoglou/ info@eurohoops.net
Lorenzo Brown scored a season-high 17 points, dished five assists, had one steal, and just one turnover, contributing the most to Armani Milano‘s (10-10) new victory (74-87) over Panathinaikos (12-8) after the one at Unipol Forum (96-89).
And this time, the 35-year-old American point guard was a little happier for his own reasons.
“It feels incredible to be back. It was like being at Panathinaikos again, training, competing, and trash-talking with the players. They are my brothers.”
“You call it a ‘revenge game’. I wanted to go out and give my best, I do it every time, but it was a little more personal the way things turned out last year. We didn’t get along. These things happen, too,” said the former Panathinaikos player, who has not cut off contact with his former teammates.
“I talk to them all the time, they’re my brothers. They helped me a lot in the difficult times I went through last year, in the ups and downs. They were by my side, and they helped me keep my head up. I absolutely appreciate that.”
Did he take the opportunity to talk to Ergin Ataman? “No, no one talks to him,” he said with a laugh.
And if he didn’t get much love from the 59-year-old Turkish coach, he got it from the team’s fans, who applauded him: “I appreciate it. It’s a bittersweet feeling not to be here. My family and I love Greece.”