Ergin Ataman spoke to the media on the eve of Panathinaikos AKTOR’s home game against Real Madrid, scheduled for the evening of Thursday, March 6, at OAKA. The head coach of Panathinaikos AKTOR stated:
"Real Madrid has one of the best rosters in the EuroLeague. Even though they are not in the top position in the standings, they remain one of the main contenders for the EuroLeague title. From what we have seen so far, Real Madrid performs better in big games."
He continued by addressing the upcoming battle against Real Madrid:
*"We expect a tough game. For us, it is crucial to protect our home court and not lose in our arena. It will be a very intense match. We know that Real Madrid has players of an extremely high level, such as Facundo Campazzo, Mario Hezonja, Dzanan Musa, Edy Tavares, and many others.
It will be a very demanding game for us. These players, with their experience and potential, will be highly motivated in front of 20,000 fans, especially against the team that defeated them in last year’s Final Four championship game.
However, we also have a very strong roster. We have won our last nine games, so we must be prepared to fight for another victory, just as we do in every home game. We need our fans to support and motivate us. This is not just a regular-season game.
We need more intensity and support. This is not a showcase match; it is a battle between Panathinaikos AKTOR and Real Madrid—a historically significant rivalry. Tomorrow will be yet another great game, and we will do everything we can to win."*
Regarding the injured players, Ataman added:
"Omer Yurtseven, Mathias Lessort, and Marius Grigonis will not play tomorrow, as has been the case for some time now. The rest of the team is healthy, and I hope nothing changes before the game so that everyone remains available. Marius and Mathias will need more time. As for Omer, we will assess his progress this week to determine whether he will be ready for the match against Olympiacos next week."
Gabriel: "The best locker room I've seen in Europe"
Wenyen Gabriel spoke to reporters on the eve of Panathinaikos AKTOR’s home game against Real Madrid, addressing the unique challenges of facing Edy Tavares and Bruno Fernando, as well as the newly renovated locker room of the team.
His statements in detail:
"We all know that Real Madrid is historically a very talented team. They have a strong roster, regardless of their position in the standings. We know that they always perform well in big games, so we need to be prepared and protect our home court while striving to maintain our position ahead of the playoffs.
They have very skilled big men and a lot of talent in that position. We must protect our paint; Tibor (Pleiss), Dinos (Mitoglou), and I have a big task ahead of us."
When asked about the African presence in his matchups against Edy Tavares and Bruno Fernando, he responded:
"It’s amazing. It’s a testament to African basketball and the future talent that is emerging. It’s important for us to keep setting this example for players from Africa. There is a lot of talent, and tomorrow is a great opportunity for us to put on a good show.
I wouldn’t say I’m at 100% yet, but I’ve already played a few games. It’s been 17 days since my injury, and I’ve been able to keep working and competing."
Finally, when asked about the new look of Panathinaikos AKTOR’s locker room, he said:
"First of all, I’m impressed by how quickly the renovation was completed. Congratulations to the owner for making this happen for us, so we can feel comfortable there. It is definitely the best locker room I’ve seen here in Europe. I really appreciate it. I’ll take some great pictures. Everything is very comfortable.
Compared to the NBA, there are some differences—Americans love their TVs—but overall, it’s an elite-level locker room."
