Sloukas ready to make China trip, Greece fall in Power Rankings
Sloukas ready to make China trip, Greece fall in Power Rankings
Kostas Sloukas is ready to travel to China for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, according to the latest reports in the media.
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On Friday afternoon, reports published by gazzetta.gr revealed that Sloukas is preparing to fly to China for the World Cup in the coming days, despite having received a calf injury in a friendly match against Italy last week.
Sloukas, 29, has been dedicating seven hours of every day to the recovery process. Earlier this week, head coach Thanasis Skourtopoulos had stated his belief that Sloukas would participate at the World Cup, and fortunately it seems as though he was right. The Fenerbahce star is expected to board the plane to China on August 27.
He will then train at least four times in China before Greece compete against Montenegro in the maiden group game on September 1.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Giannis Bourousis, Nick Calathes, Antonis Koniaris, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Giorgos Papagiannis, Kostas Papanikolaou, Ioannis Papapetrou, Giorgos Printezis, Panagiotis Vassilopoulos and Vangelis Mantzaris are the 12 players currently training in China.
GREECE FALL IN FIBA POWER RANKINGS
Last week, Greece were in third position of the FIBA Power Rankings, but the country has fallen to fifth place after the defeat to Serbia at the Acropolis Tournament in Athens.
“Are Greece still lethal without Kostas Sloukas? Probably, but Giannis and friends are hoping their point guard makes it back in time. But a defeat to Serbia in front of the packed OAKA in Athens could shake up their confidence just a bit, especially with France, Spain, Serbia rising as the World Cup approaches,” read the statement which FIBA published on its official website.
Serbia, who defeated Greece in overtime at the OAKA Indoor Hall, rise to first place ahead of the USA.
FIBA Power Rankings as they stand:
Serbia
USA
Spain
France
Greece
Lithuania
Argentina
Russia
Australia
Brazil
Germany
Turkey
Italy
China
Tunisia
Poland
Canada
Nigeria
Czech Republic
Philippines
New Zealand
Japan
Montenegro
Iran
Senegal
Puerto Rico
Dominican Republic
Angola
South Korea
Jordan
Venezuela
Ivory Coast
by Shaun Nicolaides
Image Source: to10.gr
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