Panathinaikosis heading to Italy , hosted tomorrow by Mapooro Cantu in THY Euroleague game 7. The Greens will not have Sofoklis Schortsanitis (injury in the sole of his foot), Andy Panko (fevered laryngitis), Gaios Skordilis (gastroenteritis) at their disposal, while Kostas Tsartsaris is retuning from an ankle sprain and Roko Leni Ukic’s participation in the game will be defined at the very last moment, since his has suffered a muscle rupture.
Panathinaikos head coach, Argyris Pedoulakis, stated: “It is an important encounter for the group; it is a team with a good presence, well molded especially when it comes to a set game. We are faced with many issues, especially in the big men department, but whoever does compete I am sure will be focused and will give it his all to prevail. Cantu at home is more aggressive, has more energy, has great confidence and is coming from a great performance against Fenerbahce/Ulker in its previous home court clash. It is a team, always in the game”.
Vassilis Xanthopoulos stated slightly prior to the team’s departure from the “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport: “It doesn’t matter how many we travel. All that matters to us is doing our game and getting to the win. It is true that we are faced with many issues, something that means that all who are to compete must try harder in order to cover the gaps. We trained last night, but since then the facts have changed and in tonight’s practice in Italy our coach will tell us what must be done. How we must deal with every situation on the court during the game appropriately. If we do this, then the win will be attainable, a great win for us. Our problems are many and they have made us all the more… aware, but they do not change our goal, which is the positive result”.
Stepahne Lasme, who is the guy to have the most work cut out for him, with all the front line issues the team has, stressed: “We face each game very seriously. Granted the issues we have, we must present ourselves as ready as ever so as to be able to win. We must be focused, not dwell upon the absences, not have our heads hung low and follow the coach’s instructions down to the very last word. For 40 minutes, hard work is needed and we must play determined. If we do all this, everything will be much easier for us. In any event it is a tough game, since we are competing on the road, but the issue is our team. We do not care about the opponents. The thing is to regain our confidence and believe in our abilities”.
The History
Panathinaikos– Cantu ( Italy ) 3-6
2012-13 Euroleague 78-761993-94 Euroleague 85-75* 79-75
1990-91 Korac 80-86 75-88*
1981-82 Euroelague 78-105* 72-103
1979-80 Saporta 103-106 79-119*
