Panathinaikos AKTOR's squad departed for Bologna on Thursday morning, November 14, ahead of their away game against Virtus Segafredo Bologna (15/11, 21:30) for Round 10 of the EuroLeague.
Ergin Ataman spoke to the press before leaving for Italy, stating, “Virtus Segafredo Bologna is a solid team, especially on their home court. They have a strong atmosphere, so they play with more confidence. We know they won against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in their last home game, so it will be a tough matchup. They have very high-quality players, like Will Clyburn, Isaïa Cordinier, and Ante Žižić. Overall, they’re a dangerous team, so we need to play strong.”
When asked about Kostas Sloukas’ readiness, he responded, “After the game with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, we didn’t have a practice session, so I don’t know yet. We’ll see. We’ll assess him in tonight’s practice. If he feels well, he will play tomorrow. Of course, he needs time for full recovery.”
Commenting on Panathinaikos AKTOR trailing at halftime in their last three EuroLeague games, he said, “We need to start games much better, with focus, because when playing away, if you’re down by 15, it’s tough to come back. OK, we managed it in Belgrade, but we need to play consistently for forty minutes—that’s the issue. It’s our fault that we didn’t start games well but played aggressively in the second half. What we need to do is bring that same intensity from the very first possession.”
He concluded by saying, “All the teams are closely matched. If you’re playing at 50% or 60% of your capacity, you can’t win a game in the EuroLeague. You need to give at least 90% of your ability and energy each time. It’s impossible to win at 50% in this competition. It’s not only about offense but also about defense. It’s the complete picture.”
Hernangómez: "It will be a battle"
Juancho Hernangómez stated: "It's a tough game. Every team is tough to beat on their home court. Last year, we won at the end with a last-second shot. This year, it will be very challenging; they have excellent players and a very good coach. It will be a battle."
When asked about his matchup with Tornike Shengelia, he replied: "He’s one of the top players in the EuroLeague, and he has been for eleven years. I have a lot of respect for him, I admire him greatly, and I grew up watching him play. Defending him is a team effort, and we'll see how it goes."
Finally, regarding Panathinaikos's ability to win despite slow starts, he commented: "It's a bad habit. We need to start games better in the first half. In the last two games, we managed to come back and secure the win, which is the most important thing."
