The Panathinaikos lost to Olympiakos 94-101, with Ergin Ataman describing the match as a comedy in his statements.
Additionally, the Turkish coach spoke about what happens in the matches of Panathinaikos against Olympiakos, and how it is possible for Wokap to play with Dorsey, while he also hinted at the refereeing decisions.
Details of what Ergin Ataman said:
“I would like to ask you, I wonder about all these things happening in the matches with Olympiakos. Since Wokap and Dorsey cannot play together in the National team, what happens in the GBL games? Vezenkov plays for the Bulgarian National team. We had to deal with six foreign players and three referees. It is very difficult for us to win.
It was a comedy because when I asked a referee in the first half why he didn’t call that clear foul that the other referee called, he replied that it was his first Greek derby. I told him that he started very well. He will be in all the Greek derbies like this. What can I say?
I am proud of the players. In the second half, we fought very hard. Foul on Farid on the lay-up with the difference at five, they called an offensive foul. For me, it is clearly a defensive foul. After that, we lost. It was at five points, we came back from 18, with the basket and foul it would have been a two-point difference. We tried without many important players. Everyone who played, especially in the second half, showed great character. The match didn’t change our lives, our situation in the league. We tried but they didn’t let us. I don’t care. For me, the next three matches in the Euroleague are important.”
On whether he keeps anything tactical from the match to use in the Euroleague games: “Definitely. In this match, after Nan's ejection, Shorts did exceptionally well and showed that in difficult moments he can help the team.”