By Dimitris Minaretzis/ info@eurohoops.net
A sudden stomach flu outbreak has hit both Panathinaikos Aktor and AEK following their return from the International Tournament Rhodes 2026, sparking major concerns for both clubs just as the official games in the new 2026–27 season are approaching.
At Panathinaikos, six staff members came down with gastroenteritis after traveling back from Rhodes, with a few even needing hospital care, as confirmed on Monday. Team officials are highly concerned that the virus can spread to the players who made the trip for their two exhibition wins against AEK and Spartak Office Shoes. The timing is hardly a coincidence, given that both teams stayed at the same hotel.
Even though the Greens don’t have an official game until the EuroLeague tips off next week, head coach Zeljko Obradovic is anxious to avoid any more empty spots on his bench. The team is already short-handed, with Moustapha Fall, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Kendrick Nunn, and Nikos Rogkavopoulos all away from training camp, while veteran guard Kostas Sloukas is still trying to get up to game speed. This health scare comes right before this weekend’s Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament 2026.
Meanwhile, the Basketball Champions League’s AEK announced that eight team members, including five players, have fallen ill. Center Gaios Skordilis became visibly unwell right after the flight landed in Athens. Guard Frank Bartley IV was also hit hard by the virus, with his illness pushing back a scheduled medical checkup to evaluate a knee injury. With five players sick and another four sidelined by various injuries, putting together a proper practice session has become an impossible task.
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