Turkish coach Ataman leads Panathinaikos to Greek Cup victory over Olympiakos
Panathinaikos basketball team players celebrate Greek Cup victory after winning against Olympiakos (PAO)
Panathinaikos won the Greek Cup with a thrilling 79-75 victory over Olympiakos, ending a four-year wait for the prestigious title.
Under the leadership of Turkish coach Ergin Ataman, the team overcame a 30-34 halftime deficit to secure the win.
The match was intense, with Panathinaikos finding their rhythm in the second half, largely thanks to strong performances from Kostas Sloukas and Kendrick Nunn. Despite a tense finish, Panathinaikos held their ground and clinched the victory.
Head coach Ergin Ataman’s thoughts
After the game, Coach Ergin Ataman reflected on the victory.
It was a classic final between two strong teams. We made several mistakes in the first half, especially with our shooting, but we held up defensively. In the second half, we improved offensively. Sloukas and Nunn were key in maintaining our lead, although we missed some easy shots that could have cost us. In the end, we held on and won. This victory feels especially rewarding after last year’s loss. I dedicate this cup to Giannakopoulos, but our main focus remains on winning the league and EuroLeague.
Head coach Ergin Ataman
Ataman also stressed the significance of the win for the fans: “We’re very happy with this victory, particularly against such a strong opponent. This match was important to our supporters, so we’ll celebrate tonight. But starting next week, we’ll refocus on our bigger goals, particularly winning the EuroLeague again.”
Panathinaikos’ Greek Cup victory is a historic achievement, marking the club’s return to the top after four years, with the team defeating their arch-rivals Olympiakos in a dramatic final.
Key performances
Kostas Sloukas and Kendrick Nunn both scored 17 points, with Sloukas adding 5 assists. Nunn played a pivotal role in the second half, contributing significantly to the team’s turnaround. Cedi Osman also made an impact, recording 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist.
For Olympiakos, Sasha Vezenkov was the top scorer with 17 points and 7 rebounds, while Evan Fournier contributed 11 points.
