Promitheas to file complaint with FIBA, claiming Rytas intercepted crucial timeout / News - Basketnews.com

Promitheas Patras are willing to file a complaint with FIBA, arguing that their last timeout in the game against Rytas Vilnius was intercepted by the Lithuanian's bench.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Rytas Vilnius downed Promitheas Patras 77-75 in a FIBA Basketball Champions League Round 4 game on Wednesday night.

Free throws this season

71%17,0Points made:17,0Accuracy:70,8%Place in standings:13Record max:21Record min:13Most made FTs:Gytis RadzevičiusTeamBCLStatisticsSchedule

The Greek squad bounced back from -13 in the first half and came close to completing the comeback, but RJ Cole made the go-ahead basket, and then Justin Gorham blocked Jaime Echenike's layup attempt, which would tie the game and send it to overtime.

Promitheas dropped to 2-2 in their BCL group in the BCL, while the Lithuanian side has the same record.

However, Promitheas announced they intend to submit a complaint to FIBA, arguing that the instructions of head coach Ilias Papatheodorou were intercepted in the timeout he called before his team's last possession, with 2.9 seconds remaining on the game clock.

The Greek club claims that the Lithuanian television turned the microphone on and placed it over the Greeks' bench while the coach was calling the plays, which resulted in his exact words (in English) being heard on air.

Following Papatheodorou's timeout, Rytas coach Giedrius Zibenas asked for his own timeout.

Promitheas staff think that Zibenas wanted to listen to what his colleague had told his players. As a matter of fact, in the ensuing play, Gorham followed Echenike and was able to prevent him from scoring.

Hence, Promitheas will file a complaint with FIBA in order to protest this incident, while they will also submit the video from the broadcast.

Another incident of alleged timeout interception took place during the 2023 BCL Final Four in Malaga and during the semifinal involving Unicaja and Telekom Baskets Bonn. One of Bonn's assistant coaches looked and listened to what Unicaja's head coach Ibon Navarro instructed his players throughout the timeout.

"I found what Bonn did regrettable. I have been in the BCL Final Four for seven years, and I think that a line was crossed last Friday. It was a gruesome image," Vidorreta said after winning third place,via Malaga Hoy.

"We must open the debate on timeouts and television if this is going to happen repeatedly and if we have already crossed the red line. I would say that we have to avoid broadcasting timeouts because there is notable damage to those who comply with the norm."

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