Ergin Ataman spoke to the press on the eve of the home game against AS Monaco, touching on various topics, including the return of Dimitris Giannakopoulos to OAKA.
Here are his statements in detail:
"We know AS Monaco is a very strong team. Especially on offense, they have very skilled perimeter players, just like we do. I would say their roster resembles ours. So, it's clear we need to play solid defense, particularly against their guards, and limit their scoring and their ability to create opportunities for their big men."
On Vassilis Spanoulis taking over as head coach of AS Monaco:
"Spanoulis is a great coach and a great personality. I believe he will bring all of his character to AS Monaco. Of course, this is very dangerous for us because he knows Panathinaikos AKTOR very well—the team and the players. I am confident that in his first year in the EuroLeague, he will perform well, just as he was one of the greatest players in EuroLeague history. I believe he will become one of the top coaches in the EuroLeague in the future. I wish him all the best and hope he has a great season—but only after our game."
On the importance of winning home games:
"It is very important. Beating these teams on the road is not easy. To gain an advantage, you must play good basketball, be aggressive, and win first and foremost at home. That's why it's essential for our fans to support us. I’ve told the players, we can’t think about the Final Four in February or March—it will be too late. Now is the time for all of us to show aggression and create an incredible atmosphere in our arena because winning our home games is crucial. If we don’t do that, everything will become risky. We can’t talk about the Final Four without first making it to the Playoffs. We must be ready to fight and win, starting with tomorrow’s game against AS Monaco and then against FC Barcelona. These two games are extremely important for us."
On Dimitris Giannakopoulos' return to OAKA:
"We missed Dimitris Giannakopoulos. I believe he deserves to be here. He has made a significant investment in the arena, this team, and Greek basketball. I am happy he will be back with us in the arena and enjoy this incredible venue. Naturally, his presence will give us additional motivation. Above all, I believe that, for everything he has done for Greek basketball, he deserves to be here and see us up close—in the best arena in Europe."
Papapetrou: "I am not worried; we are working well"
Ioannis Papapetrou addressed the media on behalf of the players. Here is what he had to say:
*"They are a very talented team with significant offensive capabilities and dangerous guards. Their game begins from there. Obviously, with the change of coach, all teams gain extra motivation. Coach Spanoulis, in my opinion, is an excellent fit for this role and has already shown great promise. Certainly, he will have time to introduce a few elements to their game, but not enough to fully instill his philosophy. What’s most important is that they will attempt to turn around their recent results with the arrival of the new coach. We need to be very prepared to impose our own rules because we are playing at home.
Their roster is very deep. I am not worried about anything; I believe we can face any opponent as equals. Especially when we play on our home court, we aim to win. Obviously, I think Coach Spanoulis will bring some principles to their game, especially on defense, giving them better direction. We must focus on our own game, in our own arena, in front of our fans."*
On whether the players have missed the presence of Dimitris Giannakopoulos at the games:
"Of course, we have missed him! We are all happy that he will be here with us. I hope he will join us for every game, circumstances permitting. Let’s go all the way together, as we did last year."
Finally, regarding Panathinaikos' slow starts in recent EuroLeague games, he said:
"We’ve started several games somewhat sluggishly, slowly. Clearly, we cannot afford to do that against any team in the EuroLeague. We need to be more focused, avoid relaxing, and stay ready from the first to the last second, regardless of the opponent. I believe we are working well, improving, and we will deliver a very good performance tomorrow."
