By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After losing the first two games, Panathinaikos defeated arch-rivals Olympiacos in the do-or-die Game 3 of the Greek Finals, making it 1-2 in the series.
The EuroLeague champions’ head coach, Ergin Ataman, spoke with confidence after his side claimed their first finals victory.
“This is the finals. You can’t win by 20 points. Olympiacos came back, we did it in Game 2. Everything this time was clear. We are the EuroLeague champions. We cut the lead of Maccabi to 2-1 and then beat them on the road, and we won Game 5. We will do the same and win the championship,” Ataman said.
Olympiacos’ head coach, Georgios Bartzokas, complained about Panathinaikos having more free throws.
“We didn’t protect the ball, made too many turnovers in the last three minutes, and allowed too many left drives by Sloukas. However, the way the game was called today, all our players had two fouls from the get-go. We will see what happens in the next one. I don’t want to be the guy who complains about the refs, but in such a game, Panathinaikos having 10 more free throws is significant,” Bartzokas stated after the game.
Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos’ top scorer of Game 3, has a different opinion than the Piraeus team’s tactician.
“Olympiacos gets away with too many fouls, they will scratch my tattoos off” Nunn said.
“Shame on you” and “don’t be jealous”
The bickering continued with Olympiacos issuing a press release in which only two phrases were written: “Shame on you, see you on Wednesday”.
It’s a clear reference to the way the calls were made, while Ergin Ataman during the press conference accused coach Bartzokas of being jealous: “Initially I heard that Bartzokas mentioned my name. Please, my friend, stop talking about me.
I do my job and you do yours. If that’s your job, ok. I do mine anyway. Do not be jealous. In the future you might be able to win some Euroleague titles with Olympiacos, for which the fans of your team have the highest aspirations.
In the previous game he mentioned something again in the press conference about my suspension, my interference with Sloukas etc. This is my job, the referees sent me off but do your job. Don’t mention my name in the Press Conference, make a comment if you want about your team. To be clear.”