Panathinaikos Aktor rules out team captain Kostas Sloukas for the EuroLeague meeting with Zalgiris in Zalgirio Arena
By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Heading to Round 18 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season with Zalgiris hosting Panathinaikos Aktor in Zalgirio Arerna, the head coach of the Kaunas outfit, Tomas Masiulis, downplayed the absence of Kostas Sloukas.
The captain of the Greens has been ruled out for the game on Tuesday due to right knee discomfort.
“They definitely lose experience and creativity, but they have talented and experienced players even without him. The others will definitely step up,” he mentioned in a pregame press conference on Monday.
“All teams are very focused on him, but he still has an average of 20 points,” he continued, replying to a question about whether this situation regarding Sloukas allows Zalgiris to be more careful with defense on Kendrick Nunn. “There are thoughts, some ideas. We will try to implement them. Tomorrow we will see if we can succeed.”
Besides the 35-year-old combo guard and Mathias Lessort, who continues to rehab following recent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle, the remaining players are available for head coach Ergin Ataman.
For the team coached by 50-year-old Masiulis, only Dovydas Giedraitis is out due to a sore leg.
“We want to re-evaluate him. Give him time and see. We do not want to rush him back. We want to be 100 percent sure that he is healthy,” said the Zalgiris play-caller, updating the status of the 25-year-old combo guard.
Entering Round 18, the Greek side carries an 11-6 tally and is tied with Valencia in third place, with the Lithuanian side tied with three more teams in sixth place behind a 10-7 record.
Read the latest News
