Ergin Ataman spoke to the media shortly before Panathinaikos BC AKTOR’s departure for Vitoria, where the team will face Baskonia (October 9, 21:30) for Round 3 of the EuroLeague Regular Season.

The head coach of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR initially stated: “In the EuroLeague, every game is different. It’s true that they haven’t won a game yet this season, but at home they lost to Olympiacos in the last minute. They have players who can score, run, and are dangerous in transition. We have to be careful and control the game, because every win, especially away from home, is very important.”

Regarding the condition of his players, he noted: “This year’s EuroLeague is longer, with 38 games. We didn’t really have the chance to hold a proper preseason because most players were at EuroBasket, and then we traveled to Australia with half the team due to injuries, as the players with problems stayed in Athens. But game by game, our players will better understand our system, we’ll keep improving our game, and we’ll get better each time. As you can see, no one in the EuroLeague right now is fully ready or playing great basketball. What matters is not being great now, but being great in the second half of the EuroLeague. For now, even if you don’t play the perfect game, it’s important to find a way to win.”

When asked what he wants to see different compared to the Barcelona game, he replied: “Our problem is defense. But defense takes work. It requires teamwork, more games, more practices together, and I believe that in every match our defense will improve, which is crucial for our fast breaks and transition play.”

Finally, Ataman commented on the team’s rotation: “Everyone is healthy now, and that makes things more difficult. But the season is very long, and it’s normal to have injuries during the year, so it’s very convenient to have such a deep roster. Our goal isn’t to win one or two games — our goal is to reach the Final Four and then fight to win the EuroLeague. So having a roster like this is a big advantage. Of course, it’s not easy to select the 12 players for each game, but bench contribution is very important to me. Maybe someone won’t play in one game but will play 30-35 minutes in the next. For me, the key is to find the right players for each game in order to win.”

Rogkavopoulos: “The team will be where it needs to be in the end”

From the players’ side, before Panathinaikos BC AKTOR’s departure, Nikos Rogkavopoulos also spoke. The small forward of the Greens said, regarding his return as an opponent against Baskonia: “It’s special. I’m playing against the team that helped me emerge in the EuroLeague and gave me the opportunity to compete at this level. I’m grateful and looking forward to seeing everyone again, but for 40 minutes we’ll be opponents. I hope we get the win because it’s a very important and also a dangerous game.”

Speaking about Baskonia’s style of play, he added: “We need defense, running, and energy. They’re a young team that will run a lot and play with intensity. They’ve lost all their games so far, so they’ll be even more motivated to win tomorrow.”

On what Panathinaikos BC AKTOR must do to claim victory and the team’s overall goals, he emphasized: “I think we’re getting better day by day. As we keep practicing together, the new and returning players are building chemistry. Things will definitely improve. We need to control the rebounds — we haven’t managed that in our first two EuroLeague games — and we must limit Baskonia’s transition game. We also have to be smart on offense and punish their mistakes. It’s still very early — it’s only the third round. The team hasn’t had a full preseason together because of EuroBasket, injuries, and the Australia trip. It’s very hard to add details at this point. We need patience and support, and I’m sure the team will be where it needs to be in the end.”

Finally, when asked if he’s spoken with any of his former teammates, Rogkavopoulos replied: “No, we haven’t joked around. I think everyone at Baskonia is very focused. I’ll see the guys there, but everyone is concentrated — just like we are.”