Panathinaikos BC AKTOR defeated Real Madrid 82-81 at Telekom Center Athens, in a matchup for Round 26 of the EuroLeague regular season. Top scorer for the Greens was Kostas Sloukas with 22 points.

The visitors started the game better and took a 12-6 lead in the 3rd minute, with Panathinaikos BC AKTOR cutting it to 14-11 in the 5th minute. Real Madrid extended their advantage to 24-11 in the 9th minute, while the first quarter ended 26-16 in favor of the Spaniards. The Spanish side built a 14-point lead in the 13th minute (19-33), but the Greens responded, reducing the deficit to 33-23 in the 15th minute and to 33-27 one minute later. The first half concluded with the score 44-36.

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR closed in at 44-43 in the 22nd minute and took the lead 46-44 a minute later. Real Madrid went back in front at 55-50 in the 26th minute, but the Greens tied it at 55-55 in the following minute. In the 29th minute, the visitors made it 61-57, with the third quarter ending 61-60 in favor of the Spanish team.

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR regained the lead at 66-61 in the 31st minute, but Real Madrid cut it to 66-65 in the 33rd minute. One minute later, the Greens made it 70-65 and extended their lead to 73-67 in the 35th minute. The visitors reduced the gap to 73-71 in the 37th minute and, seconds before the end, took an 80-81 lead with an and-one basket. On the very next possession, however, Jerian Grant knocked down a two-pointer, sealing a huge 82-81 victory for Panathinaikos BC AKTOR.

Quarters: 16-26, 36-44, 60-61, 82-81.

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR (Ataman): Shorts 9, Kalaitzakis, Osman 12 (2), Holmes 3, Sloukas 22 (3), Rogkavopoulos, Samodurov, Grant 19 (1), Toliopoulos, Faried 6, Hernangomez 9 (3), Mitoglou 2.
Real Madrid (Scariolo): Lyles 2, Kramer, Abalde 8 (2), Campazzo 11 (1), Okeke 8 (2), Procida 3, Hezonja 13 (2), Garuba 4, Tavares 2, Llull 7 (2), Feliz 5, Len 18.

Ataman: “A great win, we never gave up”

The head coach of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR, Ergin Ataman, stated at the Press Conference following the home win against Real Madrid:

“At the beginning of the game we had many problems on offense. They packed the paint, Shorts scored some points but we didn’t stretch their defense. We prepared to play aggressively on the ball, but they had good ball movement, found three or four three-pointers and took the lead. We kept playing with the strategy we had prepared and Sloukas had a big impact when he came on the floor. We ran pick-n-roll offense with Sloukas and Grant. In the second half we played amazing defense. Aggressive defense. In the end, Osman and Juancho contributed with their shots. We had control. We had the chance to win more easily. At the end we got tired and made important mistakes. We risked losing the game, but then luck came to our side. With the atmosphere at Telekom Center Athens and with the heart my players showed, we deserved to win. We won with Grant’s shot. The players play with great hustle, they never give up and they showed it again with a big win. We have the same wins as Real Madrid and we beat them twice. That will be a big advantage for us at the end of the regular season.

In my philosophy every game is different. We fought. We knew we could only win with aggressive defense, with hustle, with hedge-out, with traps. It’s obvious we have problems offensively. We are missing a player who is an EuroLeague MVP. He has averaged around 20 points and 4 assists over the last three years. After Lessort we managed the situation. Last year we went to the Final Four. Without Nunn it’s not easy to rebuild our offense because the team, the chemistry is there, every player has his role. Tonight Grant again took responsibility, Sloukas as always took responsibility and we played our game. It’s not easy. This game is finished, we look to the next ones. We hope Nunn will return because he is very important for our system.

If you play for Panathinaikos, if you work for Panathinaikos, one of the best clubs in Europe that in the last two years played in the Final Four and won the EuroLeague two years ago, you will have pressure. You cannot win every game. It’s normal. Sometimes we have pressure. I know who provokes in the media. I checked, I understood that some wanted to provoke against me. I know the reason, it’s obvious. Before the game, when I went on the court, everyone in Europe saw and understood my love and my connection with the real Panathinaikos fans. 20,000 people. In my life I always have pressure. Not because of what you write, but because I want to win. In the last five years I won the EuroLeague three times. I was always in the Final Four. If the team is not doing well, I put pressure on myself. The players are young and they are emotionally affected. It’s normal for me. I can say that I know who provokes, let them continue. I don’t know if anyone here does it. But continue, I like it more.”

Regarding the love and support of the fans, Ataman added: “In the last two days everyone called me. Turkish media, Greek media, asking why I didn’t react to Giannakopoulos’ story. Because he is like me. I attack my players in press conferences and Giannakopoulos attacked everyone. It’s normal. He wants to win. He puts effort, money. He is right and everyone has his own way. Sometimes I attack my players in the media, now he attacked everyone and he was right. I like it and honestly I get motivation from this system.

The players are a bit confused, they are young. Yesterday I met with them and told them: everyone is thinking about the 8th star. Forget it, focus on the next game. The first year we won the title nobody expected it, we went step by step. Everything in sports is step by step. We will fight. Every game is different. I respect Giannakopoulos. I didn’t answer. I want to say thank you for giving us motivation, especially to me. There are some media that have been attacking for months, not only after the game against Aris. I know why but I don’t want to explain it. I know the reason well. I want to add that we are humans. I got motivation, but these two days I didn’t feel well after that attack. It was good because I understood that when I attack my players, they don’t feel well. So I will not attack my players in the media.”

Asked whether this game could be a turning point, like the win against Monaco with Grigonis’ buzzer-beater, Ataman replied: “Of course, this game was very important for the motivation of the team, the fans, the players, the staff. Of course it’s important as a win because we have the same wins as many teams and one of them is our opponent, Olympiacos. We have the same wins as Olympiacos, as Real Madrid whom we beat twice. This win without Nunn, who is very important for us, might be one of the ‘keys’ for the next step of the team.”