By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos got the Euroleague win against Real Madrid and for the first time since the start of the season proved against a big opponent that the Greens will continue to fight, no matter what was changed in the team last summer.
One of the new additions to the roster, Lithuanian forward Jonas Maciulis talked to Eurohoops about the new mentality of the Greens and the importance of winning the game against Real: “We worked hard last weeks in order to improve our game and I think that was the result. Everybody is now happy about this win, but it’s too early and, of course, it’s a good thing but nothing it’s solved yet. We have to look forward, not to celebrate, work hard and win next games”
After all the next game against Cantu will be also very important for the qualification: “This win helped a lot. I don’t think that anybody expected Cantu to lose at Olimpija. It helped us a lot, but the next game will be more important that this one”.
Panathinaikos, however, already seemed changed for the better against Madrid and Maciulis talks about this difference: “I can say only what was the difference between the first game against Real and this game. We kept in check our emotions, didn’t let Real score easy points, we fought for every ball, we did a great job on defense like a team, because everybody was helping. We knew that if we could stop first of all Rudy, because his team depends on him, that would help us a lot”.
And that’s what Panathinaikos has to do from now on as the win against Real can be the blueprint for the future: “I hope so. Maybe we changed by ourselves, we worked hard as a team in practice. Everybody gets confidence from somewhere, but our confidence came by good defense and getting easy baskets. Then we just… played. As I said the next game is more important. Everybody understands that. We can be happy about this till tomorrow’s practice and then we will have to work. We have an other game and we have to prepare for Cantu, because that game will decide a lot”.