By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a EuroLeague Playoffs battle that transcended a simple basketball game, Valencia’s head coach, Pedro Martinez, offered a pointed reflection on the ejection of both himself and Panathinaikos Aktor play-caller Ergin Ataman.
“Bittersweet, sweet because the team won and bitter because I was ejected,” he told Movistar Plus+ Deportes, focusing on the heated exchange in Game 3 of the best-of-five series.
“We were tired because in the two Valencia games, Ataman, a maestro in controlling the situation, forced technical fouls when we were controlling the game and playing well, and the referees changed their calls,” 64-year-old Martinez noted on his counterpart.
“I just told the refs that this isn’t right and they should be fair,” he continued. “He went mad, and we both got ejected. We both were out of the coach’s zone. No comments on the referees, I just didn’t want him to influence the game as he did in the first two games.”
This comment highlights the psychological warfare of a series where the technical area has become as much a focal point as the game action itself.
The flashpoint occurred late in the third quarter when a verbal altercation near the sideline forced official Damir Javor to send both coaches to the locker rooms early. The tension didn’t dissipate at the whistle, as Ataman’s pursuit of the argument required intervention from center Mathias Lessort to prevent further escalation. This latest incident is merely the peak of a mounting rivalry involving the majority shareholder of the Greek giants, Dimitris Giannakopoulos.
Despite the chaos and an ankle injury to Josep Puerto, the Taronges managed to avoid a sweep on Wednesday. They now face a daunting rematch at the Telekom Center Athens this Friday, aiming to force a deciding Game 5 back at Roig Arena.