Ergin Ataman’s Panathinaikos Defeats Galatasaray by a Wide Margin
Galatasaray Men’s Basketball Team lost 85-56 in a friendly match against Panathinaikos, the reigning EuroLeague champion.
In the game held at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, the yellow-red team finished the first quarter behind with a score of 17-12. However, they managed to balance the game in the second quarter and entered halftime tied at 34-34. Panathinaikos dominated the third quarter, ending it with a 58-45 lead.
In the final quarter, Panathinaikos further asserted its control and won the game 85-56.
For Galatasaray, Palmer scored 14 points, and Efianayi added 11, becoming the only two players to reach double digits.
Galatasaray’s Vice Presidents Niyazi Yelkencioğlu and Mehmet Cibara, along with board members Can Natan and Timur Kuban, watched the game from courtside.
Ergin Ataman Receives Love from the Fans
Galatasaray fans showed their affection towards Panathinaikos Head Coach Ergin Ataman.
Ataman, who previously coached the yellow-red team and won championships in both Europe and Turkey, was greeted with cheers when he entered the court. The experienced coach responded to the fans by raising and shaking his fists in his signature gesture.
Galatasaray’s board member responsible for basketball, Can Natan, presented Ergin Ataman, who is also a club member, with a Galatasaray jersey.
Cedi Osman and Ömer Faruk on the Court
National basketball players Cedi Osman and Ömer Faruk Yurtseven, who transferred to Panathinaikos, played against Galatasaray.
Both players, who previously represented Turkey in the NBA, recently joined the Greek team before the new season. They faced Galatasaray in this friendly match.
Cedi Osman finished the game with 12 points, while Ömer Faruk Yurtseven scored 15 points, making him the top scorer of the match.
Galatasaray Bids Farewell to Sinan Erdem Sports Hall
Galatasaray’s team played its final match at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall as the home team.
Starting from the new season, Galatasaray will play its games at the Basketball Development Center, bidding farewell to the arena they had used since 2017.
The yellow-red team, which played its last preseason game, will face Germany’s Rasta Vechta in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 1, and will play against Türk Telekom away in the first week of the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League on Saturday, October 5.
