Greece and Turkey will face each other for the first time ever in a EuroBasket semifinal, with the game scheduled for Friday, September 12, though it has not yet been decided whether the tip-off will be at 17:00 or 21:00.

The matchup carries many special elements, one of which is the presence of Ergin Ataman on the Turkish bench. In statements he made to Anadolu News Agency, the experienced coach described Friday’s game as “historic” and made a special appeal to the country’s airlines.

“We will play a historic semifinal with Greece. The presence of our fans could prove decisive. Support from the stands is very important,” said the Panathinaikos coach, adding meaningfully:

“Greece will have more fans, as additional flights to Riga have been scheduled. I expect our airlines to do the same, so that many Turkish supporters will be there by our side.”