By Stefan Acevski/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos had two chances to secure the Final Four in front of their fans. However, they did not succeed.
After losing in Game 3, PAO also fell in the fourth match, so now they will have to seek their path to the final tournament on an away game in Spain, where they won the first two encounters.
After the match, Ergin Ataman gave a statement. The Turkish coach of Panathinaikos admitted that Valencia played better and deservedly won, although the “greens” had a chance to win, as he mentioned.
Specifically, Ataman commented: “Valencia played better than us. They deserved to win. We had the opportunity when we changed the game, but we made a decisive mistakes. They deserved to win. Congratulations.”
Ataman spoke at the press: “I’ve seen these things for the first time in 25 years”
During the press conference, Ergin Ataman addressed several interesting issues, initially focusing on the statements made by the visitors’ coach before the match, emphasizing that Pedro Martinez should have been penalized, while also making insinuations about the referees:
“I want to say a few things before answering your questions. As you know, yesterday (7/5), their coach held a press conference and said that the whole scenario he created in Game 3, after the technical foul I received, and he received one too, leading to our ejections, was because I got 2 technical fouls in the first games and changed the game, and the referees helped us to win in the end. Now, if I talk about the referees, since I’ve paid 35,000 euros so far, I’ll have to pay again. What kind of penalty did they give for what he said, that we won because the referees helped us? No penalty? None.”
“I won’t talk about other things. Everyone saw the game tonight. The only thing I’ll say is to watch the game again when you get home. For the first time in my 25-year coaching career, it’s the first time I’ve seen these strange things. Anyway. It’s 2-2. We won 2 games there with the… help of the referees. They won 2 games here… all good. Very… polite referees.
Technical foul on my bench because someone stood up. For Valencia’s bench, 2-3 coaches were standing together all the time. Nothing. Okay, they deservedly won the game, we’ll go there for Game 5, but I tell you, watch the game when you get home. If you think I’m wrong about this game, tell me, that I’m wrong.”
Regarding the good defense the “greens” played at the end of the first half and in the second half, and if it was a “key” that they didn’t finish some attacks, as well as the good games his team has played this year in Spain, the Turkish coach explained:
“Certainly in the second part, we were focused. As we have won in Madrid, in Barcelona, and twice in Valencia. We just want everything to be fair. We are focused and will win once more in Valencia. But if it is like this, it will be difficult. In the first part, we changed the pace of the game. Later we missed some shots. Only two players contributed offensively tonight. Unfortunately, the others didn’t contribute offensively.”
The fifth game will be played on May 13th (21:00 CET).