Anadolu Efes heads into the fireplace in Athens, staring down a well-known face in a high-stakes Game 5 that can decide the final ticket to the EuroLeague Final Four.
The Turkish facet travels to the Greek capital to face Panathinaikos AKTOR, led by none apart from former Efes head coach Ergin Ataman.
Tip-off is ready for Tuesday night time at 9:45 p.m. Turkish time on the OAKA Sports Hall.
With the playoff sequence knotted at 2-2, the decider guarantees fireworks.
The winner is not going to solely earn a coveted spot within the Final Four, set for May 23-25 in Abu Dhabi, however may even be tasked with going through Fenerbahçe Beko within the semifinals.
For Efes, it’s an opportunity at redemption. For Ataman, it’s a shot at eliminating the very membership he as soon as made European champions.
The sequence has been a slugfest from the outset. Efes dropped the opening recreation 87-83 in Athens however bounced again with a gritty 79-76 victory to steal home-court benefit.
Back in Istanbul, the tide turned once more as Panathinaikos edged out a 81-77 win in Game 3, placing Efes on the ropes.
But the Istanbul powerhouse fought again, grinding out an 85-82 victory in Game 4 to ship the sequence again to Greece for a remaining battle.
Beyond the drama of the scoreboard, the narrative has been formed by emotion and historical past.
Tuesday’s conflict marks the thirty ninth assembly between the 2 golf equipment in EuroLeague competitors, with Panathinaikos holding a 21-17 edge.
It additionally provides one other chapter to Anadolu Efes’ wealthy European journey, because the staff gears up for its 875th recreation in continental competitors.
The Turkish giants have received 494 of their 874 European contests to this point, together with 337 victories from 626 EuroLeague appearances.
But all eyes can be on the sidelines.
Ataman, who guided Efes to back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, discovered himself within the eye of a storm throughout Game 4 in Istanbul.
Booed and heckled by the gang that after hailed him, the fiery coach stormed out of the sector earlier than returning to steer his facet.
Ahead of the decider, Ataman made pointed remarks to the Greek press, contrasting the habits of Turkish followers with these in Athens.
“Fans sometimes behave like that,” he stated. “But our followers – Panathinaikos followers – know basketball higher and know methods to present respect.
I hope nobody insults us tomorrow and that everybody simply helps their staff.”
Despite the animosity, Ataman expressed enduring respect for the membership the place he made his identify.
“Efes is special for me,” he stated. “A team I respect deeply.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com