After much anticipation, the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament finally touches down in Australia this week with Panathinaikos BC to deliver a showcase to Aussie audiences for the first time in its history.
The PGT will kick off its maiden edition outside of Greece with a clash between the Greens and KK Partizan at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena on Thursday 18 September before the clubs then travel to Sydney to face NBL teams on Sunday 21 September at Qudos Bank Arena.
The tour brings to fruition an ambitious plan that started over a year ago.
“It was a very difficult thing to do. In the beginning I thought it would never happen because Australia is too far away and you understand how players react with the long flight,” said Panathinaikos BC President Vassilis Parthenopoulos in response to a Neos Kosmos question at the event’s official announcement in May.
Parthenopoulos had stressed that the support of NBL Owner and Executive Director Larry Kestelman helped get the deal over the line, with the teams finally ready to reap the benefits of it.
Panathinaikos will face Adelaide 36ers in the second game of the day, following an earlier clash between Partizan and Sydney Kings.
Greece will also be able to follow the Tournament as it will be shown on TV via ERT.
The “Trifylli” officially landed in Melbourne on Monday ahead of their clash with Partizan on Thursday.
The two clubs have a strong connection through current Partizan coach Željko Obradović, who was in charge of Panathinaikos from 1999-2012 and led them to five EuroLeague titles.
“(Partizan) is a great club…They are very passionate, they have a great coach…a coach that is in our heart and has given us many trophies,” Parthenopoulos said at the announcement in May.
