Panathinaiko’s OPAP was poor, posting one of its worst performances of the year and fatally losing to Zalgiris in OAKA in a postponed match for Game 18 of the EuroLeague. The image of the shamrock was not appropriate during the forty minutes, which logically annoyed Dimitris Priftis, as can be seen from the statements he made after the end of the game.

Dimitris Priftis’ statements are detailed:

“Unfortunately we had a very bad first ten minutes, that’s when all the damage was done. Not that we were any good next period, we just had a better balance. We lost very easily. In these games, if you step on the ground and do not touch the opponent, and in attack you do not pass the ball, the opponent has these percentages in two points and three points. Zalgiris had about 75% in twos in the first half. We weren’t enough tonight. We have excuses, but I can’t go into them. This is how the game works. We’ll have to see what we do next“When asked what is happening in Ukraine, he replied:

“What is happening is difficult for all of us. Part of our mind is there. We think it’s far from us, but it’s not. I spoke to Dimitris (Itoudis) in Moscow, I spoke to the people from Unics Kazan. Things are very ambiguous and I don’t want to engage in a political debate right now. In Russia, people have their own approach to what is happening. Either way, this is all very ugly. It affects everything in our daily life. I hope and wish that a solution will be found soon. That is the dominant topic of the day, everything else is our microcosm. We are all equal under heaven and under God, whether we come from Greece, Turkey, Russia or Ukraine. Sad what happens that we don’t see everyday life. Unfortunately we are fighting for money, for land. The planet is enough for all of us“.

Zdovch: “Sad what is happening in Ukraine”

For his part, Yuri Zdovch said: “I didn’t know what to expect, I felt pressure because we knew Panathinaikos were struggling. What has happened to the war over the last few days has made us all put more of our thoughts there. But my players focused and played decisively from the first few seconds. Overall, they put in a great performance with one small exception, Nemanja Nedovic’s three consecutive three-pointers in the third period. We controlled the game to the end, which isn’t easy with OAKA. We’re a different team now because three players have come back from injury. We feel it in our rhythm. It’s not nice to be last in the rankings, I’m ashamed to see the result (laughs). But we’re trying to take the pressure off the players that we have based on our rankings, to be more relaxed in attack. The most important thing is that our injuries are back and we are different as a team“.

Asked about the temporary absence of the three Russian teams (CSKA Moscow, Zenit, Unics Kazan) from the EuroLeague and the war in Ukraine, he replied: “I don’t want to comment on the EuroLeague’s decision. What is happening in Ukraine is unacceptable, it is a sad phenomenon. I’m glad that people at all levels show respect and try to help the people of Ukraine“.