By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos entered the Greek league derby without four important players, as Juancho Hernangomez, Jerian Grant, Nigel Hayes-Davis, and Nikos Rogkavopoulos were all sidelined.
Then Kendrick Nunn was ejected following a confrontation with Tyler Dorsey, and Ergin Ataman’s team eventually suffered a defeat to Olympiacos at OAKA Arena.
After the game, Ataman shared his thoughts and raised questions about the eligibility of three Olympiacos players in domestic competition, also protesting about the calls.
“Can Dorsey and Walkup play together on the national team at the same time? No, because they are both naturalized players. But in the league, they can play. They are given that opportunity. Only in a league like this. In other countries, I don’t think that’s possible. Vezenkov plays for the Bulgarian national team — that’s three naturalized players, plus six foreigners, plus three referees,” Ataman said, speaking about the opponents in the press conference.
It was a tense night, which included Olympiacos protesting for insulting chants and the behaviour of Panathinaikos fans towards Sasha Vezenkov, coach Giorgos Bartzokas, and owners Panagiotis and Giorgos Aggelopoulos, while Panathinaikos replied that similar incidents are happening in Olympiacos home court.