Argyris Pedoulakis, Panathinaikos' coach, expressed his satisfaction on the way his team performed against EA7 Emporio Armani Milano, during the press conference, after the end of the game.
"It was the Top16 premiere. We were focused and in a good temper. We played defense in a high level. We had energy and self confidence. We got the rebounds, we had more possessions and these two helped us to get second chances in the game. During the third quarter the situation was clear. We controlled the rhythm and had Armani Milano doing things they don't like. We got off with a win in Top16 and we have to continue".
When asked about the stability his team shows, Pedoulakis replied: "We remained in Athens, we practiced, we feel better. The best example is Diamantidis. He put on the court so much energy today. We want to be healthy. That's the most important. We had a lot of turnovers today that we have to reduce. Roko played tonight after only one practice. After 30' came the fatigue. We placed our bet on his experience though. The other kids don't have the experience these kind of games demand".
Luca Banchi (coach, Armani Milano) noted: "First of all I have to congratulate Panathinaikos for the way they approached the first game in Top16. They had a game full of energy. It was something we expected. To be competitive tonight we had to play way better than we played. Our percentage in free throws, 2 point and 3 point shots were bad. The athleticism and the good defense of the players of Panathinaikos created pressure on our guards and that led us to lose our balance. We have to see the way we approached the game in the third period. We made the 6 out of our 12 turnovers during the first minutes of the second half. Diamantidis was exceptional especially during the first period. He created situations not only for himself to score, but also for his teammates. The way we played against him and also the way we confronted the tall guys of Panathinaikos was not the right one. About Hackett... It was simply his first game. It was a good experience. I believe that with our new players we will reach the level we want in order to be competitive in the competition".
