By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes coach Ergin Ataman addressed the recent reports regarding forward Achille Polonara leaving the Turkish side and being close to signing with Virtus Bologna back in his native Italy.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get what we wanted from Polonara, and we couldn’t play him in league games,” Ataman said after his team’s rout over Panathinaikos Athens. “This created unhappiness for him and his manager contacted us and said that there were clubs that wanted him. We said that we would consider it if there were suitable conditions.”
Polonara has been averaging 2.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.4 minutes over 14 games in EuroLeague. He was DNP against Panathinaikos but for “tactical” reasons, per Ataman.
“If Achille Polonara leaves the team, we have a few alternatives to replace him,” Ataman mentioned. “We’re looking at the situation. The reason he didn’t play today was tactical. Polonara is our player but we don’t want to continue with a player who is unhappy if suitable conditions arise.”