Ergin Ataman spoke to reporters ahead of Panathinaikos AKTOR's final training session on the eve of the OPAP Final 8 Greek Men’s Cup final in Crete.
His statements in detail:
On the upcoming final against Olympiacos: "We’ve played many games against Olympiacos this season, and we’ll play many more. Both teams know each other well, and both have injuries in different positions. Of course, this is a final, and the winner will take the Greek Cup after three games. This is the easiest trophy to win because all you need is three victories. But in any case, it’s a final. I know the rivalry in Greece. Even if we were playing beach basketball, we’d go for the win. Like I said, three wins and you take the trophy. Congratulations to Olympiacos for beating us in the Super Cup, but my main goal as a coach is the EuroLeague and winning the championship, just like we did last year."
On the importance of winning as a statement for the rest of the season: "We want to win every game. Last year, we lost the Greek Cup. But I don’t think anyone in Europe—not just in Greece but in any country—remembers who won the national cup. The EuroLeague and the championship are the most important goals. I repeat, I know our fans want us to win the trophy, and tomorrow we’ll step on the court giving 100% to win."
On reaching 100 wins as Panathinaikos AKTOR's coach: "My plan is to reach 1,000. With Panathinaikos and other teams, I already have over 1,000."
On Giorgos Bartzokas’ comments: "I have great respect for Giorgos Bartzokas. That is his opinion. We never complained about our mistakes, not even before the Stoiximan GBL game when we were missing our centers. Everyone has their own opinion. I already said that Olympiacos has been the best team in the EuroLeague so far. They play very good basketball. We play differently. If Giorgos Bartzokas is afraid of this situation, that’s not our concern."
Brown: "There will be competitiveness"
Lorenzo Brown spoke to the media ahead of the highly anticipated derby against Olympiacos, on the eve of the OPAP Final 8 Greek Men’s Cup final in Crete.
His statements in detail:
On his thoughts ahead of the final: "Everyone knew this game was coming—the two best teams in the league and the EuroLeague are facing off in the Greek Cup. I think this game is mostly for the fans. We want to put on a show for them. At the end of the day, we are still playing basketball. There’s a lot at stake, and we want to win everything. We want to improve as a team. Tomorrow’s game will be intense, and we want to win and make it a special one."
On the motivation from the fans: "It’s always incredible to hear the crowd chanting your name. Not many people in the world get to experience that. That kind of energy is always positive and uplifting. The fans get to live this experience and truly support their team."
On the official game ball: "It’s definitely different. It’s more slippery than the usual ones. I’ve played with FIBA balls before, and it feels somewhat similar. I think it’s a FIBA ball. It’s a bit weird. I’ve adjusted to it, but it’s definitely different."
On whether there could be any surprises in the derby: "There will be competitiveness. There are talented players on both sides, and it will be a physical game. I hope it turns out to be a great match and that we manage to withstand the fouls. Ideally, it would be decided in the final seconds for the fans. As I said, this game is for them."
On comparing Panathinaikos vs. Olympiacos to Partizan vs. Crvena Zvezda: "Yes, but in Serbia, it’s more intense. They take it to the next level. Here, things are calmer. The fans keep it within the stadium. And honestly, I like it a little more this way."
On the Final 8 compared to other countries: "It’s cool here—when we step out of the hotel, people ask for autographs and chant our names. I love the energy."
On Olympiacos’ absences: "They are missing key pieces of their team. Point guards make crucial decisions and control the tempo of the game. Someone will have to step up, but they have talented players. Someone will fill the gap."
Papapetrou: "Each team will adapt"
Ioannis Papapetrou spoke to the media on the eve of the OPAP Final 8 Greek Men’s Cup final.
His statements in detail:
On what Panathinaikos AKTOR needs to focus on:
"We need to approach the game with a defensive mindset, establish our defensive principles, and play tough. I believe we've significantly improved our defense, and we need to be consistent. We know them, and they know us. I think the game will be decided by how intense the battles will be, how strongly we engage in every play, and who wants it more and shows it on the court."
On the absences of both teams:
"Of course, there are absences. But in games like this, technical details come second; first and foremost, it’s about desire. We have our shortages in the frontcourt, while Olympiacos is missing players in the backcourt. Each team will adapt accordingly, and everyone has their own game plan. Ultimately, I believe this will be a game of pure willpower, as a title is at stake."
On whether last year's lost final is in the back of their minds:
"It definitely is. This is a trophy we want—it’s important to us. What happened last year is in the past. I believe last season ended successfully despite the Greek Cup loss. Right now, this is our first title opportunity, one of the three we are aiming for."
On the OPAP Final 8 official ball:
"The ball is different. Obviously, we all know that when the Greek Cup comes around, we have to play with this ball. It feels a bit different, and it slips differently. Let’s just focus on playing good defense..."
On Alec Peters’ statement that Greek basketball is at its highest level ever:
"Yes, if you consider that Panathinaikos AKTOR and Olympiacos have consistently been among the top three or four teams in Europe over the past two years, then I’d say it’s true. I also think that teams beyond Panathinaikos and Olympiacos have significantly raised their level. We've seen some great battles. The Greek League games have become highly competitive. For us, no game in the Greek League is easy—we’ve had to fight hard to win many of them. I believe the level has risen significantly."
On whether he still gets chills playing in an 'eternal derby':
"It’s an incredible feeling—I still get chills. It’s a unique experience to play in this atmosphere, in this derby. You know what’s at stake. Sometimes, we joke around in the locker room with Kostas Sloukas, who says: 'Feel the pressure.' It’s a great privilege to have this feeling, to experience the pressure before these games."
