By Semih Tuna/ info@eurohoops.net
Riga, Latvia – After Alperen Sengun neared a triple-double with Turkiye securing a second win in Group A of EuroBasket 2025, Ergin Ataman jokingly went into also securing the services of the 23-year-old center at Panathinaikos.
Ataman, 59, referred to his recent evaluation of the EuroLeague compared to the EuroLeague, resurfacing his opinion about the NBA champions being labeled as world champions in North America.
“I saw today that many social media, both in the United States and Europe, wrote about my statement about the difference between the EuroLeague and the NBA. I continue, give me Alperen Sengun from the Houston Rockets to Panathinaikos, and 100% we will beat the Houston Rockets,” he said.
Beyond club duties with the Greek club, Ataman is currently focused on guiding the senior national team of his country and aims for a long EuroBasket run. Bouncing back from a sluggish start and defeating Czechia shaped a 2-0 record in Group A of the preliminary round.
On the wrong end of Friday’s meeting in Xiaomi Arena and Sengun tallying a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double plus nine assists, two blocks, and one steal, Diego Ocampo’s side was forced down to 0-2.
“We had a plan. Sometimes, we made a good execution. Other times we tried but he beat us, because he is really smart,” the 49-year-old Spanish tactician opened up on the Houston Rockets center, “I love this kind of guys that want to play the ball to pass. For me, this is basketball.”
Over two appearances in Riga, Sengun has averaged 19.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals per contest.