By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos Athens coach Ergin Ataman stated that forward Ioannis Papapetrou won’t be suspended anymore and he will join the team to Serbia for the upcoming game against Partizan Belgrade Thursday (5/12).
“We took Papapetrou out for an indefinite amount of time,” Ataman said after the win over Barcelona. “He didn’t play for two games and we won those two games. I think he understood the mistake that he made and we also know his role on the team very well. I told the team managers that I forgive him and he will travel with the team tomorrow.”
Papapetrou got suspended by Panathinaikos after the home loss to AS Monaco last Friday. Ataman later implied that the sanction had to do with the second captain of the team complaining over his playing time and role on the floor.
Now Papapetrou is back with Panathinaikos as the Greens will look to build a streak in the EuroLeague following the victory over Barcelona.
Behind a career-high 29 points by Kendrick Nunn and thanks to a winning free throw by Mathias Lessort in the very last seconds, Panathinaikos beat the Blaugrana to bounce back to EuroLeague victories.
“We lost in the last possession against Monaco. Tonight we won in the last possession, That’s the EuroLeague,” Ataman commented. “Nunn’s shots were very important,” the Turkish coach added on Nunn’s three buzzer beaters, each at the ends of the first three quarters and two of them from half court.