Panathinaikos will face Hapoel Tel Aviv on Friday night, hoping to extend the five-game winning streak it has built at the start of this year’s EuroLeague.
Zeljko Obradović spoke ahead of the game, emphasizing that his team must be fully prepared to face an opponent with great potential and many talented players, while also addressing the injury situation and commenting on rumors regarding another addition to the “Greens’” roster.
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Here are the highlights of what the Panathinaikos coach had to say:
On whether tomorrow’s game is a battle of philosophies: “No, I don’t think it’s a battle of philosophies. It’s too early to talk about it that way. We have to pay attention to everything in a basketball game, both on offense and defense, just as we do in every game. Hapoel has many talented players who can go one-on-one, both on the perimeter and near the basket. They can pose a threat through the pick-and-roll, as well as in the open court. They have a lot of options. Therefore, we must start with our defense, without a doubt. At the same time, however, we must also focus on our offense. If we play good defense, we need to run the floor and try to score easy points.”
On the injury situation: “Bonga didn’t play against Partizan due to a wrist injury, while Rogavopoulos is out, as are Kostas Sloukas and Kendrick Nan. We don’t know yet about Bonga. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow, and depending on his condition, we’ll make our decision.”
On his relationship with Itoudis and what he expects from tomorrow’s game: “It’s a game between two teams, Hapoel and Panathinaikos. That’s just how it is. You know my relationship with Dimitris, and I don’t think I need to repeat it. We’re very close, like brothers. The game is different from real life.”
On the possibility of adding another player to the roster: “I can’t escape the rumors. That’s something you and everyone who loves basketball do. I’m a serious coach, and some of the names that have been mentioned lately have never even crossed my mind. So I don’t know what to say in response. Whether Mustafa will play or not is something that will be discussed, just as there will always be people who have their own opinions. And that’s fine. I have no problem with that. We’re here, within the team, and I’m focused on the players I have at my disposal. Nothing else.”
Fal: “We’re all on the same page, and that makes all the difference”
Mustafa Fall spoke ahead of the match, emphasizing that everyone on the “Greens” is on the same page and supports one another, which has played a very important role in the team’s strong performance so far.
Here are the highlights of his remarks:
What does he expect from tomorrow’s match? “We’ll try to impose our style and play tough defense. We know they have excellent scorers, so we need to be consistent from the very first minute. They have very talented players, and we hope none of them have an exceptional night. We’ll try to play our game and get the win. This would be our first loss of the season, so we’ll see how things play out.”
You had a very good performance in Belgrade, but it seems that’s just the beginning. How do you feel? “It’s been a long time since I last played, so it’s normal to have some ups and downs. I’m trying to be as consistent as possible, to do whatever the coach asks of me, and I hope to keep it up.”
You’ve played in Greece as an opponent, but now you’ll be playing in front of the Panathinaikos fans for the first time. What do you expect from the fans? “I’ve spent five years in Greece, so I know the fans and the atmosphere they create very well. I’m sure they’ll get fired up and support us until the very end. I hope they enjoy the show we’ll put on for them.”
Hapoel has strong centers, with Daniel Oturu standing out. Are you ready for this challenge and to give your team the boost it needs? “I’m always ready for whatever it takes. It’s basketball, and we’ll try to compete against our opponent, whoever that may be. Oturu is an outstanding player, but he’s not the only one on Hapoel. We need to stay true to our game and give it our all.”
What’s the secret behind Panathinaikos’ impressive start in the EuroLeague and its 5-0 record? “First of all, we’ve played quite a few games and managed them well. That has helped us a lot. At the same time, we have an exceptional team. We all enjoy being together and support one another. We have a very deep roster, from the first to the twelfth player. We’re all on the same page, and that makes all the difference.”
*photo source: KYPE
