By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After a solid start to the 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, Rokas Giedraitis will miss the next two games of Bitci Baskonia, the team announced.
Giedraitis, 29, did not travel to Russia for the games opposite UNICS Kazan and Zenit Saint-Petersburg scheduled for Wednesday and Friday, respectively. He suffered a left ankle injury during Sunday’s ACB Regular Season Round 7 game versus UCAM Murcia and since returned to Vitoria-Gasteiz to undergo treatment rather than traveling with his teammates to Kazan.
Another tough break for the team coached by Montenegrin Dusko Ivanovic. Alec Peters and Sander Raieste have yet to make an appearance in the ongoing EuroLeague season after being forced to the injury list. However, three wins in a row against Panathinaikos OPAP, ALBA Berlin, and AS Monaco have upped the team tally to 3-2 ahead of this week’s Round 6 and Round 7 of Europe’s premier club continental competition.
As for the Lithuanian wing’s injury, a timetable for a return to action has not been set. So far, he averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per EuroLeague contest. Domestically, he has 14.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per match.
UNICS coached by Baskonia legend Velimir Perasovic, currently tied for 14th in the EuroLeague standings at 1-4, may miss experienced forward Andrey Vorontsevich in the home affair versus the team based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
Zenit, carrying a 3-2 record and still listing Shabazz Napier out indefinitely due to the right ankle injury in September, begins the double-game week hosting Real Madrid tonight, Tuesday.