Ergin Ataman said about the match with his old team: “For sure, it will be a difficult game. All the matches we played in this series were very close. Efes has very experienced players, they are fighting. However, we have to stay calm, be aggressive in defense and in attack, play our game and win.”

Regarding the big shots that decided the previous matches and whether he prefers a more… easy outcome of the 5th match, he said: “I don’t know… Of course, I prefer us to win. However, both teams have a high ceiling and have understood each other’s tactics. It will be important to be aggressive on every ball, to try to win every possession, to be united with our audience. Our fans at our home will be very important. We all have to be focused on every possession. We have to win every possession before we think about how we are going to win the game. We have to win every possession and in the end that is how victory will come.”

Regarding the sold out that happened within four hours and the team’s psychology, he commented: “I think it is not special that our fans sold out within four hours, because this happens all season long. The people are always with us. Tomorrow we don’t need… a show. We have to fight and have our 6th player with us. We want the people to give extra energy and motivation to our players. Without offending anyone, neither the referees, nor the Efes players, nor the Efes organization, which we respect. We want the public to support our team 100%. That everyone is with the team and fights for every possession.”

Regarding the importance of home advantage, he emphasized: “I told my players that we will play the 5th game at home and that is much better than playing it away from home. Will it be an advantage? We will see tomorrow.”

When asked if he feels disappointed with what happened in Game 4 with the fans of the Turkish team, he replied: “Really, I am not thinking about it right now. Nothing can cancel the memories and my respect for Efes. My friends work there, there is the president of the team and his family. Unfortunately, fans do this sometimes. However, I believe that our people know basketball and respect better. That is why I hope that tomorrow our fans will only support us, without insults to anyone. I know that Efes was worried about this situation in the fourth game, but this is life, these things can happen. I’m not thinking about them right now. I’m just thinking about Game 5, I want us to play good basketball and win.”

Finally, regarding the players available for Game 5, he said: “Are you asking me about Matias? I don’t know. He hasn’t practiced for four months. We don’t have any new problems, we’ll have the same roster.”

With tradition as an ally, Panathinaikos welcomes Efes at 21:45 in Game 5 of the Euroleague playoffs.

With the series tied at 2-2 and OAKA being sold out since the night of the 4th game in Constantinople, Panathinaikos hopes for a victory that will send it to the Final-4 in Abu Dhabi.

There, Fenerbahce, which eliminated Paris, will await them. Panathinaikos led 1-0 at OAKA, Efes tied 1-1, the Greens made it 2-1 and the Turks tied 2-2 in Constantinople.

Panathinaikos has played two other Game 5s at OAKA and has qualified in both. Lesor and Grigonis are the only ones for the Greens. For Banky’s Efes, Dozier, Poirier and Osmani are available, while Beaubois is out.