By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Reinforcements for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Greece senior national team.
Kostas Sloukas was finally cleared to practice after sitting out the first chunk of the training camp due to a minor injury. He was considered probable to play for Greece in the 2022 EuroBasket and preceding 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. But still a pleasant development for national team head coach Dimitris Itoudis.
Giorgos Papagiannis is training individually, the Hellenic Basketball Federation also reported Sunday. Yet to be cleared to join Sloukas and the remaining international teammates, the plan is for the Panathinaikos OPAP center to be ready closer to the upcoming official games.
Meanwhile, Dimitris Moraitis and Kostis Gontikas resumed practices after missing the trip to Spain for the prep game opposite the national team coached by Sergio Scariolo.
Greece’s remaining selections:
Dimitris Agravanis
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Kostas Antetokounmpo (LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne)
Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Lefteris Bochoridis (Panathinaikos OPAP)
Nick Calathes (FC Barcelona)
Nikos Chougkaz (Panathinaikos OPAP)
Tyler Dorsey (Dallas Mavericks)
Kostis Gontikas (AS Karditsas Biologiko Xorio)
Panagiotis Kalaitzakis (Panathinaikos OPAP)
Leonidas Kaselakis (Peristeri)
Giannis Kouzeloglou (AEK)
Giannoulis Larentzakis (Olympiacos)
Michalis Lountzis (Olympiacos)
Dimitris Moraitis (Peristeri)
Giorgos Papagiannis (Panathinaikos OPAP)
Kostas Papanikolaou (Olympiacos)
Ioannis Papapetrou (Partizan NIS)
Kostas Sloukas (Olympiacos)
Greece will compete in Group C of EuroBasket’s preliminary round colliding with Croatia, Italy, Great Britain, Ukraine, and Estonia in Milan. The top four advance to the next round with the knockout stage to be held in Berlin.
Before EuroBasket action in September, the away game against Serbia and the home affair versus Belgium to start Group I of the World Cup European Qualifiers on 25 and 28 August, respectively.
This week brings on more friendly contests with Poland, Georgia, and Turkey visiting Athens.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL