Athinaiou suffers ACL injury, misses World Cup

Giannis Athinaiou will miss the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China after suffering the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament injury in a friendly match against Serbia.

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On Sunday evening, Greece hosted Serbia at a sold-out OAKA Indoor Hall in the final match of the Acropolis Tournament, but the game was marred by the ACL injury suffered by Athinaiou. The 31-year-old had only been on the court for 18 seconds.

In the latter stages of the second quarter, Athinaiou fell to the floor clutching his left knee, and he was subsequently carried to the dressing room in tears. Official reports from the Hellenic Basketball Federation have confirmed that the new Panathinaikos signing suffered an ACL injury.

Athinaiou will miss the World Cup and the start of the 2019/2020 club season.

The injury problems for head coach Thanasis Skourtopoulos are suddenly mounting. Kostas Sloukas is facing a race against time to be fit for the World Cup, while Kostas Papanikolaou and Ioannis Papapetrou were rested on Sunday as a precaution.

Vangelis Mantzaris, who was previously released from the team last week, has been re-called to the side as a result of Athinaiou’s injury. The Hellenic Basketball Federation require permission from UNICS Kazan to take Mantzaris to China.

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: gazzetta.gr

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