Roko Leni Ukic was the third player to arrive today at the “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport for Panathinaikos. The Croatian guard, who arrived slightly prior to 23:30h in Athens, will be present for the team’s first practice of the season tomorrow. He will though, be departing again on Tuesday (August 14th) since he has not fulfilled his obligations with Croatia national team, which is competing for a position in the 2013 Men’s European Championship.
“I am excited that this time I am in Athens as a Panathinaikos player and I literary cannot wait for everything to commence, to start working with my teammates. For me, this is the greatest challenge possible, to be able to compete wearing the Panathinaikos jersey and even more so, now that the team is being built from scratch. We all know that it is, if not the greatest, one of the greatest teams across Europe. Things are a bit different but I hope and believe that all will end well, that it will remain at an high level. I am not troubled about still having obligations with the Croatian national squad. It is an issue I am faced with year after year. I am an experienced player however, this is my sixth Euroleague season and I know how to respond to matters in the best possible manner. It is a fact moreover, that I know the teams very well, I know each and every player… I believe that I will be ready”.
Ukic referred to his coexistence with Dimitris Diamantidis: “He is one of the best players! I thoroughly enjoyed every matchup against him, but one thing is sure… It’ll be much better to have him next to me instead of across from me”.
