FIBA

Ergin Ataman criticizes demanding FIBA-EuroLeague schedule

Feb 28, 2026 11:25 AM

Turkey earned a significant road win in Belgrade, moving to 3–0 in Group C and strengthening its position on the path toward the FIBA World Cup.

Following the game, head coach Ergin Ataman, who had coached Panathinaikos in a EuroLeague matchup against Paris just one day earlier, spoke about the demanding travel and scheduling challenges surrounding the victory.

“I wasn’t calm, I was tired. Thanks to FIBA and the EuroLeague for this crazy schedule where we have to carry great responsibility and proudly represent our country under these conditions. I was tired, just like the players. The same goes for Serbia. It’s crazy. I arrived after a tough EuroLeague loss, on a private flight, at 2 a.m.,” Ataman said.

“By the next game I’ll be able to recover. I’ll be more aggressive. Dušan (Alimpijević) is always aggressive. He tried his best. The fans love him there, especially Beşiktaş supporters. But this is not the real Serbia we faced at EuroBasket.”

Ataman also highlighted the historical significance of the result, noting how rare a victory in Belgrade is for Turkey.

“If I’m not mistaken, this is Turkey’s first win in Serbia. That’s important. Even though they were missing many players, I respect them. This is a historic victory in Belgrade.”

Reflecting on the flow of the game, Ataman said Turkey maintained control for most of the contest despite stretches of disorganized play, and he singled out Tarık Biberović for his impact.

“We had control of the game the whole time. But at some point, the game turned into chaos basketball. Within normal structure, we had a clear advantage. We are trying to play a style of basketball that suits this roster. Tarık did a great job there. That’s why Tarık is part of this team – he is a very big player. He already shows that in the EuroLeague with his club as well. He delivered a good performance today. Now we need better performances from our other players too.”