THE Panathinaikos will welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv on Tuesday night (28.10.2025, 21:15, Newsit.gr) for the 7th matchday in the Euroleague, with the aim of returning to winning in the competition. THE Ergin Ataman he spoke ahead of the OAKA match, which will be the first of the new “devil’s week” in the organization.
Ergin Ataman initially referred to Panathinaikos’ medical report, stressing that Holmes, Huatso, Nan trained hard and are expected to be ready to play against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The Turkish coach of the “greens” spoke about Maccabi and what the “clover” will need to do to win it, describing the Israelis as a “dangerous team”. He was also asked about the infamous time-out in Bologna, during which he sat silently on the sidelines and did not speak to any of his players, stating: “This is me, Ergin Ataman. I made my career with my methods and I will continue to use them.”
“Basketball is not won by tactics, but by players… I didn’t get any victory from tactics, it’s a matter of players. I believe them, they will get into our system. I will not change the system for a loss. We have winners at the level of strategy, team, players,” he said among others.
Ergin Ataman spoke…
For Panathinaikos’ medical report: “I think that with the exception of Rogavopoulos, the rest trained. We won’t have a new tomorrow. They will be on the field, with the exception of Rogavopoulos, as well as Samonturov of course. The others trained well and will be in the race. Holmes, Juancho and Nunn trained and I think they will be available tomorrow.”
For Maccabi Tel Aviv: “They are a very dangerous team. She scores a lot, is quick in attack and experienced. Tamir Blatt is very good at scoring and creating, as is Lonnie Walker, who is a great scorer. There’s also Roman Sorkin, who’s very smart. They have experience. They play every game at the same level. They may only have two wins so far, but they were both important, against Hapoel and Real Madrid. They were beaten by Olympiakos by a point on the last possession. They are a very dangerous team. Our matches against Maccabi are always tough and that will be the case tomorrow as well. That’s why we 100% need a good, tough atmosphere. We want the help of our audience in this difficult time with the injuries, to give us extra motivation and extra energy.”
For what his team needs to improve: “This year the Euroleague started strangely. As you have seen, we have played six matches and we are complaining about our situation. But we have won in four matches. We can complain about the game we played in Bologna, but a week ago we beat Efes in Istanbul. Efes defeated Olympiakos. Everyone can win. Hapoel are the only team with one loss and that loss came against Maccabi. Therefore, the important thing is to find balance in the team. Everyone should be physically and mentally ready to work and compete hard. I’m sure this team will eventually find its balance. But every match is important, to get the points in the standings. If we lose them now, we will be in danger later. We have to concentrate mentally and play like we did in the matches we won.”
On whether he sent a message by not instructing his players at the time-out in Bologna: “In basketball there are different methods. I use some methods. This is me, Ergin Ataman. I have made my career with my methods and will continue to use them. Sometimes I speak, other times I speak in high tones, other times I am on the edge. Everyone can understand that.”
For the percentages of his team and its cohesion: “We had a training session together after so many days. In Bologna we didn’t have Holmes, in the league match we didn’t have Holmes, Nan, Hernangomet. In Bologna, Hernangomet played 5′, without being able to help because he was injured. I need everyone to be at 100%, training, playing together. Then we will be the same as last year. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be. But the team has to work together, because for some reason we didn’t prepare together.”
On whether he has seen anything in the Euroleague that makes him adapt and change his tactics or approach: “Our tactics will not change. We have the players. Basketball is not won by tactics, but by players. You prepare the players to perform and win or lose. In the last two seasons we mostly won. I didn’t get any victory from the tactics, it’s about the players. I believe them, they will get into our system. I won’t change the system for a loss. We have winners at the strategy, team, player level. Yes, we have some new players and we have to adapt, like TJ Short, who is completely different to our system. Maybe when he plays, we’ll adjust something.”