Ataman made statements at the press conference held after the Virtus Segafredo Bologna match in the 32nd week of the THY Europa League at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, which they won 86-67.
Evaluating the match with the Italian representative, the experienced head coach said, “We played great defense the whole game. We were very good at sharing the ball. We controlled the tempo of the game. We missed some empty shots in the first half and therefore we couldn’t break the game. We strengthened our organization even more in the second half. This is where we made a difference. “Some of our opponent’s players were not in Istanbul today, but they still have a very good squad. It was an important win for us.” he said.
Ergin Ataman pointed out that it is difficult for them to be in the top 8 when there are only 2 games left in the regular season. “This is a team that has left its mark on the last 4 years of European basketball and this is a huge demoralization for me. If we win both of our games, we have to wait for other results. Our wins may not be enough.” used the phrases.
Asked how he feels and whether he has lost motivation, Ataman said:
“There is no loss of motivation. We go out on the field to win the games, but the reality is that we have a great morale. There was a great pressure on us in the first weeks of the season. We were told that this team will definitely become the champion of the European League for the 3rd time in a row, a first in European basketball history. “This put a lot of pressure on us. We were only full in 2 or 3 of the 32 games we played. Larkin didn’t play in the 4th quarter of the season. Micic stopped due to injury, Beaubois didn’t play. Dunston doesn’t play now. We have a very strong squad but nothing. At that time, we couldn’t get a full squad on the field. We lost three games in overtime, 3-4 games in our own court with a last-second basket. When this is the case, we are down in morale. I wish we had played today’s basketball in Bayern Munich, Valencia and Baskonia games, where we lost the ball here so badly. We would have played in this comfort right now We would have been in the top 4. But it didn’t happen. The pressure brought us all to this point. I don’t have a loss of motivation, but I have the fatigue caused by low mood.”
VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA FACADE
Sergio Scariolo, head coach of the Italian representative, said about the match, “I congratulate Anadolu Efes. They put on a very good game. They play the last part amazingly. Their ball-sharing in the match and their attack on the painted area were very good. We weren’t fully organized. We came here incomplete. “We started the game well, but after the second quarter we lost energy, we couldn’t stay in the game. I was not satisfied with our performance, but we did our best.” expressed an opinion.