Serelis: “We expect the whole team to be ready from tomorrow in training”

THE Panathinaikos AKTOR had a mind to Maccabi and forced by the Pigeon bwinbut finally got the victory (93-88) and the home advantage thanks to the terrible Mitoglou.

After the match, Christos Sereliswho coached the team due to Ergin Ataman being in his homeland to attend his father’s funeral, stressed that he expects all players to be available from tomorrow, while he talked about the series with Maccabi.

His statements in detail:

“First of all let’s once again express our condolences to coach Ataman and his family. Congratulations to Peristeri who has made a huge qualification for Greek basketball and I wish you the best in the Final Four next week. After the victory against Olympiakos and shortly before the playoffs we expected that we will have a difficult game today. We knew that Peristeri is very dynamic in its defense. He has players who can play iso situations and athletic talls very well. We expected a tough game. Unfortunately we were not good in our attack in the first half. We made 12 very cheap errors and allowed Peristeri to score 21 points in the first half from errors of our own.

It is an unacceptable number for a team like ours and it cannot exist at the A1 team level for the first half. In the second half we were better both defensively and offensively, we didn’t make too many mistakes, but obviously the game had gone its way, it looked like it was going to be a close match, which would be judged in the details. I think the key part is what Mitoglou plays at “5” and Papapetrou at “4” and that’s where we get a difference and at the end of the match. Although Peristeri came back, again showing its quality and tied us. Based on the fact that at this time we have quite a few minor problems, fortunately no major ones, and we expect the team to be ready and everyone in training from tomorrow, our minds turn to the playoffs and the games against Maccabi. The team wants this qualification very much, they have worked very hard all year. We worked hard to get to this position and we will give everything to be in the Final Four.”

On how difficult it is for the players to be focused ahead of the playoffs in a match with Peristeri and there is pressure ahead of Maccabi: “Obviously based on the mistakes we made in the first half, we weren’t focused for a game like that. And Monday’s game against Olympiakos may also play a role, where we scored a big win and calmed down a lot with regard to the home advantage. I won’t say there is any pressure.

The coach from the summer he came in set a goal I think quite early on than the rest of the team and we worked a lot during the season to get that home advantage and obviously we can’t have the pressure, as one means it, playing in this stadium with this atmosphere. We know that all we have to do is follow the plan we have, be tough and strong in our defense and the least we have to do is keep home for 3 more games. The important thing is to take games one by one and individually and prepare for Tuesday’s game to make it 1-0 and take the lead in the series.”

On whether he is troubled by the mistakes of the first half ahead of Maccabi: “It doesn’t bother me. I am sure that in the games against Maccabi the team will be fully prepared and will not give such rights. Because if he gives it will be disastrous. What we want is for the minor problems we have to be solved because the strain in such a series will be great.”