Ergin Ataman spoke to journalists on the eve of Panathinaikos AKTOR’s home game against Anadolu Efes Istanbul (February 6, 21:15), reflecting on the team's victory over Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and what he takes away from it moving forward.
His full remarks:
"Every game in the EuroLeague is difficult, whether you play at home or away. Right now, we are facing additional challenges, particularly with our rotation in the frontcourt. At times, this becomes an issue because most of our scoring relies on our perimeter players. Yesterday, we had several opportunities to build a comfortable lead, but Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul came in with strong momentum, having won six consecutive games.
We took a risk in the final 30 seconds, but we found a way to win on a night of rather unusual basketball. This victory is very important for our standings. We have now beaten Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul twice, as well as FC Bayern Munich twice, which will be significant for our position in the rankings going forward.
Kostas Antetokounmpo will not continue with our team. We have made our decision. I believe our management has spoken with his agent, and he will certainly continue his career with another team, whether in Greece or elsewhere in Europe.
Anadolu Efes Istanbul is a very good team with a strong roster. I believe they deserve to be in a better position than they currently are. Last night, they secured a great win against Real Madrid, so we know this will be a very difficult game. They have strong perimeter players and an excellent center, Vincent Poirier, who had an outstanding performance. Daniel Oturu is also a solid center, so we must be aggressive. We need to take advantage of playing at home and play attacking basketball.
Kostas Sloukas had an outstanding performance last night. In many big games he has played with Panathinaikos AKTOR, he has demonstrated his character. Yesterday, he not only stepped up in the final possession but also in other crucial moments. Kendrick Nunn struggled to find his rhythm until the last five minutes, and during that time, Sloukas took responsibility. On that final play, he once again showcased his winning mentality—something he has done before in the EuroLeague Final, throughout the season, and in the Greek League.
However, we need contributions from all of our players. It is crucial that everyone embodies a winning mindset, despite the challenges we are currently facing. I believe we will resolve these issues soon. After this game, we have a two-week break due to the Cup and national team commitments, and I hope that our injured players, especially Omer Yurtseven, will be ready by the end of the month".
Finally, when asked about the presence of thirty (30) Panathinaikos AKTOR fans at practice through the CLUB 1908 rewards program, Ataman stated: "This is the character of our team, the character of the club, and the character of our fans. No one here accepts defeat under any circumstances. I am sure that even if we had only five players available, I could pull a fan from the stands, and he would dive for the ball just like Kostas Sloukas. Our fans are incredible."
Mitoglou: "We will do everything in our power to win"
His Statements in Detail:
"It was a huge victory, crucial for our journey ahead. The strong character of the team—players and staff—along with the incredible energy from our fans, played a decisive role in securing the win. Now, tomorrow, we have a very important game. It is essential that we stay focused and not become complacent after this victory because, in just 24 hours, we have another tough match against an excellent team, and we must be ready."
On the matchup against Anadolu Efes Istanbul: "At this moment, this is the roster we have. We are professionals, and we will give 100% of our abilities. We will do whatever it takes for Panathinaikos AKTOR to win. The team comes above everything else, so we will do everything in our power to secure victory in this game. It does not matter who the opponent is—every time we step on the court, our goal is clear: to play with intensity and win".
On the presence of thirty (30) Panathinaikos AKTOR fans at the team's practice through the CLUB 1908 rewards program: "Especially in the final seconds of yesterday’s game, we all felt the passion and wanted to fight for every possession. It is an incredible and heartwarming initiative to see our fans here with us through CLUB 1908, supporting and watching us up close. We are truly delighted."
