Ergin Ataman: I am an ambitious coach, I continue my claim, we will be champions

The press conference of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four, which will be held on May 19-21 in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, was held.

Head coaches and players of the teams in the Final Four organization as well as members of the press attended the press conference held at Stark Arena in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Head coaches Ergin Ataman and Shane Larkin on behalf of Anadolu Efes, Georgios Bartzokas and Georgios Printezis on behalf of Olympiacos, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Nikola Mirotic on behalf of Barcelona, ​​Pablo Laso and Walter Tavares on behalf of Real Madrid took part in the press conference.

Ergin Ataman: Only two games left

Stating that the trophy won last season was very important to them, Anadolu Efes Head Coach Ergin Ataman said, “Winning the trophy was great. We celebrated this happiness with my players, coaching team and families in the locker room, but I’m sure the whole country celebrated this victory to the fullest. If we can win this trophy this season, too. I will raise my fists for our fans again and be happy,” he said.

Expressing that they did not start the season well, but they found their own rhythm as time passed, Ataman said, “It was a very difficult season for us. After winning the cup last year, we did not start this season well. We caught our rhythm in the second half of the season. But if our team made it to the play-offs, our team would not be able to play the basketball we always play. I was sure he would make a comeback and that’s what it was. In the most important moments of the season we found the right way to play our own game again. With this confidence I motivate my team. It was really hard to knock out Olimpia Milano without the field advantage. Like other teams we are here to win. Just two match left,” he said.

“I am an ambitious coach, I continue my claim, we will be champions”

Celebrating the 19th of May, the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, Ataman stated that they will play an important game on an important day and said, “A holiday gifted by Atatürk to Turkish sports. Tomorrow is an important holiday for the Turkish nation. Congratulations. Of course, this is an important game. After all, we have a serious opponent. We will face one of the teams playing the most flash basketball of the season. Of course, we want to win and bring May 19 with enthusiasm to the final on May 21. It will definitely be a difficult match. I am an ambitious player. “I am a coach and I continue with my claim. We will be champions. A team that has such good players in its squad and that is the last champion cannot have any other claim,” he said.

Larkin: Our goal is to leave here with a championship again

Anadolu Efes’ successful player Shane Larkin emphasized that they want to win the trophy again and said, “We celebrated the championship we won last season. We are back in the Final Four again and we have to act hungry for success as always. We know that we have to enjoy every moment here. Our goal is, “Leaving here with the championship again. We are focused on this goal. It is very important for a coach to trust his team and make him feel it. We trust each other as we have for the last 3 years,” he said.

Olympiacos facade

Olympiacos Head Coach Bartzokas said: “It is a great honor for us to be here again. I told my players that we need to concentrate on our own game. We must play for our city and club with confidence.”

Experienced player of the Greek team, Georgios Printezis, said: “It is a great privilege for us to be in the Euroleague Final Four organization again. At the beginning of the season, we knew that we had to work hard to reach the end. I am very happy both for myself and for my team.”

Barcelona facade

Barcelona Head Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius made the following statements in his statement:

“The match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, which will be played in the Euroleague Final Four, is of course an important match. Of course, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Clasico because we’re all here to achieve our goal. We know it’s hard. I hope we’ll be ready by tomorrow night.”

Barcelona star player and most valuable player of the season, Nikola Mirotic, said: “It is very special for me to be here because it is like my home. We have to be humble and concentrate on the semi-finals. It is important for us to enjoy every moment here.”

Real Madrid front

Real Madrid Head Coach Pablo Laso stated that they won their last Euroleague championship here and they want to be champions here again. Walter Tavares, the experienced center of the Spanish team, said that it was very difficult to win the trophy and they had to fight to achieve it.

Season awards found their owners

The winners of the season awards in Turkish Airlines Euroleague also received their awards at the ceremony held before the press conference. Nikola Mirotic from Barcelona was named the most valuable player of the season (MVP) in the Euroleague. Vasilije Micic from Anadolu Efes won the Alphonso Ford Best Scorer award given to the scoring king of the season. The best defender of the season award went to Olimpia Milano’s Kyle Hines; Rokas Jokubaitis from Barcelona received the Rising Star of the Season award. The Euroleague coach of the year award went to Olympiacos’ Greek head coach Georgios Bartzokas. Shane Larkin, Mike James, Sasha Vezenkov, Nikola Mirotic and Walter Tavares took part in the top 5 of the regular season in the Euroleague.

Ata Selçuk / Belgrade (Serbia) (DHA)