CSKA vs. Panathinaikos Athens: 68-72
Dmitry Shakulin, CSKA interim coach:
If you want to shoot some critical arrows use me as a target. But don’t criticize the players – just minutes ago in the locker room I expressed my appreciation to the huge amount of work they did. The miracles are rare. We did a lot in these four days. But we do not have enough time to fix the physical problems, lack of mutual understanding, to add new players to the system. Look at the team game of Panathinaikos: even with highest shooting percentage they play as a team, they pass the ball, they show patience, the make the opponent to help on defense. Sokolov was our best scorer but that was opponent’s sacrifice – the never helped at the expense of Langdon and Siskauskas. That’s coaching maths. And because of big attention to our shooters we weren’t able to attack from a perimeter during final possession.
Zeljko Obradovic, Panathinaikos head coach:
We came here to play CSKA which is in abnormal situation. Because of coach’s change and slow start of the season the players try to find additional motivation. And we knew about it. I prepared the team to face aggressive game by CSKA and I think the opponents played good game. We played good also but because of some stupid turnovers we allowed the opponent to come back. Congratulations to all my players with the important and well-deserved win.
