By Bilal Baran Yardimci/ info@eurohoops.net
After the game between Anadolu Efes and Barcelona, which the hosts won, Ergin Ataman and Sarunas Jasikevicius had what seemed to be a heated talk.
Asked on the matter in the press conference, Jasikevicius said: “That’s between coaches”.
A little bit later, however, Ergin Ataman talked publicly on the issue, demanding from the Lithuanian coach an apology after accusing Efes of filming Barcelona’s last practice.
As Ataman said: “You know, recently Saras made a joke in his statement saying: “I’m going to call Ergin Ataman to ask about Larkin’s situation.” He didn’t call last night, but I’m waiting for his apology by phone tonight. Because after the game, after shaking hands with him, he walked up to my assistant coaches and had a strong accusation against me, saying: “You filmed our training very well”. This is a severe accusation. Saras is my very good friend so I invite Saras to prove it”.
Ataman explained that he feels more than insulted and even said that after this behavior, Jasikevicius must leave the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, unless he apologizes: “We did not condescend to such a thing even for a single day during our 4-5 year period here, we will not. If Saras calls, I’ll say to him, prove it and I’m going to resign today, but if you can’t prove it then you’re either going to apologize or resign from the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board for stepping on my assistant coaches. I didn’t like this at all with Saras. But what do you think of that, will you make a headline like “Ergin Ataman has created tension again”? That’s your business.”