By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Third Playoff game between Panathinaikos BC and Valencia Basket did not only produce fireworks on the court. As expected, tensions also boiled over on the sidelines.
During Valencia’s big road win in Athens, a heated exchange took place between Ergin Ataman and Pedro Martínez, with both head coaches eventually getting ejected.
Speaking one day before Game 4, the Spanish coach apologized and reflected on the incident.
“First of all, I’m not very proud of what happened yesterday. It was my first technical foul of the entire season, both in the ACB and the EuroLeague, and I want to apologize first to the referees. I forced them into a very difficult situation, a very tough situation, in which they had to eject both coaches. It’s not something that makes me happy, but it happened.”
Martínez also explained that tensions had been building throughout the series.
“I was nervous because in the previous games Ataman was putting pressure on the referees and taking advantage of the technical fouls in Games 1 and 2. Yesterday we were leading by 15 and he did the same thing, but we played a great game. This is something that is outside the values of sports.”
Despite the incident, Martínez emphasized his respect for both Ataman and Panathinaikos ahead of the next game of the series.
“I have total respect for Ataman and for Panathinaikos, and I hope their fans will support the team. I hope the better team wins the game. If it’s Panathinaikos, congratulations to them. And if it’s us, then we will try to play a good Game 5 afterward,” Pedro Martinez concluded.