By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos finally has a deal with a Chinese player. Forward Ping Shang, born in 1984, who has also played college basketball at Nebraska, Illinois Central College and Division II Emporia State is the new addition in the roster of the Greens.
His last team was Qingdao of the Chinese CBA league and now he will try his luck in the big European stage. In theory Shang should be considered the replacement of Jonas Maciulis in the team, but the experience and the resume of those two players can’t be compared. After all Ping is more a power than a small forward. As he wrote himself: “It’s a good chance for me to study and improve in Europe, as the competition level and tatics in Europe are high, especially in Panathinaikos which is top level team. I am proud for going there, I treasure this chance. Going to Europe was always my dream, now it come true. As the first Chinese to go to play there, I would like to be a trail blazer”.
Panathinaikos was trying to get a Chinese player since last year and among those who were contacted by the team were Yi Jianlian, Guo Ailun, Sun Yue and DeJuan Han.