Ataman broke the bottom after the rematch against Maccabi: I want Russian clubs to return to the Euroleague

By the way, this was only PAO’s first victory against an Israeli club this season – all three times before that, including meetings with the regular season and the first match of the playoffs (87:91), “Maccabi” was stronger.

This time, “Panathinaikos” basketball players broke the game in the second half, where they were superior by as much as 31:11.

29 points were scored by Kostas Sloukas, who made a mistake at a crucial time in the first meeting (8/9 two-pointers, 4/7 three-pointers, 1/1 penalty).

Despite the victory, PAO coach Ergins Atamans did not avoid making controversial statements at the press conference again, accusing the referees after the first match.

“I am a coach, I am a person. If someone makes a mistake, it’s my job to let people know about it publicly. I speak directly, sometimes publicly criticizing both my players and myself. I’m not one to talk behind my back or on the phone.

I said that those referees’ whistles were not good and showed why I was not happy with the refereeing. I know that according to EuroLeague regulations I am entitled to a penalty. And I am ready to pay it. But it is very strange to me when such an organization publishes a statement that I spoil the image of the Euroleague. Who needs that? Why provoke and turn people against me? After all, I didn’t criticize the Euroleague, the club did it.

And now it happened that when I was going to the locker room, someone from the Maccabi staff shouted at me that now we will see what will happen to me in Israel, what the Zionists will do to me there.

Wait: I am Ergin Ataman, coach of Panathinaikos and the Turkish national team, a citizen of Turkey. You can’t do anything to me. I am not an ordinary person. I have been coaching in the Euroleague for more than 15 years, more than 300 matches and I have become the champion twice in a row. I’m not stupid, I just shared my opinion with the Greek media because people wanted to know why I was furious about the whistles. That’s all. I respect the EuroLeague and I equally hope that it will respect me as well”, – E. Atamanas cut a long monologue.

And at the end, the specialist leaked another scandalous message.

“And one more thing: I want to say to the people who provoke me that I am not a politician. I have a lot of respect for Maccabi Club, Mr. Shimon Mizrahi. I am a sports person from Turkey. As Ataturk said: peace to my country, peace to the whole world. I am for peace and I believe that Maccabi understands this.

And if you want something else from me, I am waiting for Russian clubs in the Euroleague next year, because sports in Russia have nothing to do with war. As in the case of Maccabi. I am not biased against any country,” the strategist said.

The series will now move to Belgrade, where Maccabi is temporarily holed up due to Israel’s war with Hamas.

We remind you that in the other pair of the quarterfinals, Real Madrid already leads 2-0 against Baskonia of Vitoria with Tad Sedekerskis.

Meanwhile, Monaco and Istanbul Fenerbahçe (0:1) and Barcelona and Piraeus Olympiakos (0:1) will play their second matches on Friday evening.