Panathinaikos missed the final game for a mere two pointer. Zeljko Obradovic at the press conference after the end of the first semifinal of the 2012 THY Euroleague Final 4, hosted at the Sinan Erdem arena in Constantinople, stated proud of his players and needed to express a huge “thank you”.
“We spoke a lot prior to this Final 4. We knew what we had to do in order to get the win. Today we had an almost perfect game. We committed everything we had prepared. We cut down CSKA’s numbers dramatically. I am very proud of my players because they showed true character. The game was ruled in the details. We had the opportunity to get to the win but this is basketball. Congratulations to CSKA for the win but also for its overall performance throughout the entire season. Also I would like to thank the fans for standing dynamically by our side here in Constantinople. I have send it over and over again, without them nothing is of value. Only with their presence can anything be worth anything. I feel genuinely sad for my players because they gave a good, feisty game but also sad am I for the fans who created a spectacular atmosphere. No other team has so many fans as us. We know how hard it was for them to be here, but nevertheless they were present as always”.
The Head Coach of Panathinaikos was questioned about the last play in the game and what his plan was: “For me the last play is of no importance. We had 39 minutes and 52 seconds to win. Sometimes what you plan either the plays out or it doesn’t. The odds are 50-50 when you reached that point. But this time we did not managed to perform an offense”.
Obradovic admitted having felt the clash as a final after an ensuing question: “Yes… of course it was like a final. The game was mighty tough and there was a battle for every possession. CSKA was built last summer to win the Euroleague title and that is exactly what it is going to try to achieve”.
The next question was in reference of the effect the final score had on an issue which has nothing to do with the competitive part: “It is a Euroleague semifinal. Many people are her, many people are watching. And the people who love basketball will have the chance to comment on it. I believe that this is enough. I do not wish to make any comment right now, I want to see the game again. For me, the hardest moment was to see Kaimakoglou with the blood running down his face, after a play underneath the basket, play in which the refs didn’t even award a foul. It was really, very hard for me”…
