The Panathinaikos AKTOR squad departed for Lithuania ahead of their away game against Zalgiris for the 11th round of the EuroLeague (22/11, 20:00).
The Greens traveled without four players—Marius Grigonis, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Cedi Osman, and Dimitris Moraitis—as well as head coach Ergin Ataman, who will be leading the Turkish National Team in the EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers.
Christos Serelis, who will take on the role of head coach for the upcoming game against Zalgiris, stated:
On facing Zalgiris: "We are expecting a very tough defensive game from Zalgiris. They effectively slow down the tempo and utilize a wide variety of defensive schemes throughout their games. They play with great physicality at home. We need to be prepared for a physical contest and must analyze their defense well because Andrea Trinchieri frequently adjusts their defensive strategies. Beyond that, we aim to implement our offensive game plan. We have high-quality players who can secure the win."
On Zalgiris having the best defense but the worst offense in the EuroLeague so far: "I believe the key is how quickly we can adapt to their intense and varied defensive approaches during the game. That’s crucial. The second important factor is controlling the defensive rebounds because Zalgiris is among the best teams in offensive rebounding. Even when their players miss shots, they often renew their possessions. I think our ability to capitalize on defensive rebounds will play a significant role in the outcome."
On Lonnie Walker: "He is a very talented player with significant offensive abilities. However, as we’ve seen, Zalgiris is a team with a strong character, and their identity hasn’t changed. In the two games where Walker didn’t perform particularly well, they lost narrowly. In the third game, they were theoretically defeated a bit more comfortably than in the others. He’s a very talented player, and we must ensure he doesn’t find his rhythm, but I don’t believe that a single player defines their team’s game."
On leading Panathinaikos AKTOR as head coach in Kaunas: "I was a coach for many years; I don’t think I’ve forgotten how to do it."
Kalaitzakis: "We’re going for the win"
Panagiotis Kalaitzakis spoke during Panathinaikos AKTOR’s departure for Lithuania, where the reigning European Champions will face Zalgiris on Friday, November 22.
On Zalgiris: "As every year, Zalgiris is a highly competitive team, especially on their home court. This season, they started very strong with a 6-1 record, though they’ve now had 3-4 consecutive losses. We are in a very good place right now, ready to play another away game in a very tough arena. We are prepared and determined to get the win."
On what Panathinaikos needs to do to secure the win: "We need to stay focused and play our game, bringing energy to the court. When playing in such a challenging arena, it’s not enough to have a strong half or a solid quarter. We need to deliver our style of basketball for a full forty minutes and maintain our energy throughout. Even though our coach is absent and we are dealing with some injuries, we have a deep roster, as we've shown in the past. I believe we’ll be ready and secure another road victory."
On national teams and EuroLeague games being played on the same day: "I don’t want to comment on this; it’s not my responsibility. Others are in charge of this matter between FIBA and EuroLeague. On the same day, we have our game, and both the Greek and Turkish national teams also play. At some point, a solution must be found because we are international players, and we all want to support our national teams."
