By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
An injury blow for Panathinaikos and specifically Kostas Sloukas. An MRI revealed a left foot strain.
Sloukas, 33, has been ruled out for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 2 home game opposite FC Bayern Munich on Thursday and the Basket League Regular Season Round 2 visit to Peristeri bwin on Saturday. Also, he carries an uncertain status into next week’s two-game continental stretch currently featuring Fenerbahce Beko on the road Tuesday and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv at home Friday.
The experienced combo guard was forced to an early exit from the recent game against Marousi in Round 1 of the domestic league’s Regular Season. Previously in the opening round of the EuroLeague’s Regular Season, he went for 20 points, three rebounds, and three assists in the loss to his former team Olympiacos.
Apart from Sloukas, Konstantinos Mitoglou (left calf) will stay on the injury list and Ioannis Papapetrou (left knee) is considered questionable to play against Pablo Laso’s Bayern tomorrow. The remaining players are healthy.
The decision of Kostas Sloukas
After his second spell with the Reds, Sloukas signed a three-year contract to end up on the opposite end of the rivalry in the noisiest move of the offseason in Europe. He was also named team captain by head coach Ergin Ataman.
The ongoing season marks his 14th campaign in Europe’s premier club continental competition. Previous experience includes back-to-back championship runs with Olympiacos in 2012 and 2013, and returning to the top with Fener in 2017.
Representing Greece at the international level, Sloukas competed in the 2014 and 2019 editions of the FIBA World Cup. He also made his way to the 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2022 installments of EuroBasket, and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Victoria, Canada, in 2021.