By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos Athens general manager Sani Becirovic represented the team in the post-game press conference of Game 2 of the Greek League Finals vs. Olympiacos Piraeus. While head coach Ergin Ataman couldn’t participate due to his ejection late in the loss, assistant George Serelis wasn’t there either and Becirovic explained why.
“I’m here in the name of the whole Panathinaikos organization to protect our coach and protect the behavior that was seen in the last game,” Becirovic said following a defeat that brought his team down 0-2 in the best-of-five series. “I think everybody here in this room knows what’s the proper sports behavior and proper sports conduct on the court. And I don’t think that in this game some players of Olympiacos showed this respect to our coach.”
Becirovic was referring to an incident that took place in the last minute of the game. Isaiah Canaan exchanged words with Kostas Sloukas and then Marius Grigonis, who was at the bench, said something to the Olympiacos‘ guard. Canaan responded to him, something that agitated Ataman. The coach of Panathinaikos made the silence gesture to Canaan and opened a dialogue with him.
Ataman received a technical foul for his involvement while the referees were trying to defuse the situation and when he protested the call, he was given another technical that prompted his ejection.
“Congratulations to Olympiacos for the win because they deserved it,” Becirovic added. “But their sports behavior is not for the level of this Finals,” he also mentioned before he left.