Panathinaikos basketball suffers consecutive defeats ahead of Greek Cup Final 8

Panathinaikos BC experienced two consecutive home losses at OAKA, starting with an 83-85 defeat against Fenerbahce in the Euroleague on February 13, 2026. Following that match, head coach Ergin Ataman was examined by medical staff for high blood pressure and did not attend the press conference. On February 15, the team lost 97-102 to Kolossos Rodou in the 19th round of the Greek Basket League, marking their third domestic defeat. Fans booed the team after the loss to Kolossos, who were led by players Mack and Nichols with 19 and 17 points respectively. Ataman held an emergency meeting with his assistants before appearing late at the post-match press conference. He stated that while the performance against Kolossos was poor, the team's mental preparation would differ for the upcoming Greek Cup. The team now prepares for the Final 8 in Heraklion, facing roster decisions due to foreign player limits. Key players like Dinos Mitoglou saw significantly reduced playing time in recent matches, leading to speculation about new squad additions.