Turkey’s head coach Ergin Ataman addressed the media ahead of his team’s highly anticipated EuroBasket semifinal showdown against Greece, calling on the referees to rise to the occasion and ensure fair officiating in what promises to be one of the tournament’s defining matchups.
Ataman made it clear that he expects the game to be handled without any bias, even when it comes to global superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“Both sides [Greece coach Spanoulis and him] have made their statements [on the officiating],” Ataman said on the eve of the semifinal. “Referees are human too; they follow the news. The reason behind these statements is for them to be more careful. After all, there are two very high-quality rosters. The referees will surely try to make the right calls as carefully as possible. That means when Giannis commits a foul, they will call it without looking at his name. We will just play our game. Of course, a lot of offensive fouls are called on Giannis. We won’t have time to think about it, but maybe the referees will rewatch the games after the tournament and review their decisions.”
While refereeing is one factor, Turkey also faces an internal concern: the uncertain availability of swingman Cedi Osman. Osman injured his ankle during the quarterfinal victory over Poland, and his condition remains a major question mark heading into the semifinal.
“Cedi’s treatment is still ongoing,” Ataman explained. “Of course, he couldn’t practice today. Whether he will play or not will only be clear at game time tomorrow. And if he does take the court, how effective he can be will also be clear at game time. We will make our decision accordingly.”
Ataman is no stranger to Greek basketball, given his role as head coach of Panathinaikos, where he works with several members of the Greek national team. He pointed out how this familiarity could influence the matchup.
“I already have five players who play there,” Ataman mentioned. “They have players with EuroLeague experience, and of course, an NBA star like Giannis Antetokounmpo. We have similar characteristics. Greece, in particular, shares the floor very well on offense. Sloukas organizes the game extremely well, of course. In the last game, Toliopoulos also made a big contribution. We have made our preparations. We won’t have a different strategy. Whatever kind of basketball we have played so far in the championship, we will do the same against Greece – fighting, battling, and trying to win the game.”
The semifinal will also showcase a headline duel between two of the brightest stars of the competition: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Turkey’s Alperen Şengün. Both are MVP candidates, and Ataman emphasized the different strengths they bring to the floor.
“Now, of course, the performance that Alperen has shown under the basket appears to be a strength,” Ataman said. “Of course, Giannis is also effective under the basket, but not as effective as Alperen. He is more effective facing the basket and in transition. I can say we are stronger under the basket. Especially, we will also use our other big men – Ömer Faruk, Adem Bona – and perhaps even Sertaç Şanlı from time to time.”
For Turkey, this semifinal represents a historic milestone: their first appearance at this stage of EuroBasket in 25 years. Yet Ataman made it clear that simply reaching the semifinal is not enough.
“Yesterday I told my players that Greece is a very good team and that we need to be very focused,” Ataman said. “Of course, we are going to play a historic semifinal game, and inevitably that excitement is reflected on the team and can create a sense of comfort. I told them that the semifinal should not satisfy us in any way, that we came here for a medal, and now that there are only four teams left, our only goal from here on out should be the championship.”
The atmosphere surrounding the Turkey–Greece clash adds to the weight of the occasion, with millions expected to watch in both countries. For Ataman, though, this is familiar ground.
“Tomorrow, millions will be in front of the TV in Turkey,” Ataman added. “In Greece as well, 7-8 million people will be watching. It’s a Turkish-Greek derby. I am not nervous. I have coached in many games like this. I will just try to do my job in the best way possible on the court. Hopefully, if we win, we will enjoy that joy separately.”
Ergin Ataman expects referees to treat Giannis Antetokounmpo with no superstar bias#Eurobaskethttps://t.co/WNfg1RXtGt
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 11, 2025
