By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In solid form over recent games between the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and AdmiralBet ABA League, Ioannis Papapetrou will miss Partizan Mozzart Bet’s next outing.
Papapetrou, 28, did not practice Tuesday and was ruled out of EuroLeague Regular Season Round 24 with a viral infection. The game is scheduled to be held in Germany Thursday.
Making his way to all previous 23 games in Europe’s top-tier club continental competition, including 16 starts, the experienced Greek forward tallied 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest for the team coached by Zeljko Obradovic. From the continental to regional level, he put up 8.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.5 steals per game.
Young center Balsa Koprivica remains out indefinitely since being diagnosed with mononucleosis. But the rest of the players are projected to be available against Bayern at Audi Dome tomorrow evening.
“We have experience from the first game we played against them,” legendary tactician Obradovic referred to the reverse fixture and his side landing the win by a margin of six points in Round 16, “An extremely solid, strong, aggressive defense, present at every moment and a team that never gives up. We led by 15 points and we played almost a one-possession game at the end.”
The Belgrade outfit sitting at 12-11 is currently part of a four-way tie stretching from inside to outside the EuroLeague’s Playoff zone.
Following the trip to Munich and the next ABA game Sunday, Partizan will focus on the 2023 Serbia Cup, labeled as Triglav osiguranje Radivoj Korac Cup, next week.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net