By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Mateusz Ponitka’s move to Panathinaikos is official. Reggio Emilia said in a press release that the club has reached a deal with the Panathinaikos for the rights to the Polish swingman and finally the official announcement by Panathinaikos came one day later, on the 23rd of September.
Ponitka himself paid Reggio Emilia the buyout sum that was required for his transfer to Panathinaikos. The 29-year-old player had signed a three-month contract with the Italian side back in August.
During the recent EuroBasket, Ponitka made plenty of headlines by registering a historic triple-double to lead Poland to a quarterfinals win over 2017 champion Slovenia and to the Top 4 of a major international competition for the first time since 1971. Ponitka finished the tournament with 13.4 points, 5.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds.
Ponitka is a five-year veteran in EuroLeague with career averages of 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists through stints with Asseco Prokom, Zielona Gora and Zenit St. Petersburg. He played with the latter in the three previous seasons.
Some of his career distinctions include being named EuroCup Rising Star and to the All-EuroCup Second Team in 2016, plus being a member of the All-ACB Second Team in 2018.