PANATHINAIKOS OPAP ATHENS (GREECE)

Founded in 1919
Team colors: green, white
Honors: Euroleague (1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011), Intercontinental Cup (1996), Greek National League (1946, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1971-1975, 1977, 1980-1982, 1984, 1998-2001, 2003-2011, 2013, 2014, 2017-2020), Greek National Cup (1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2005-2009, 2012-2017, 2019)
Arena: Olympic Sports Center Athens (capacity – 18989)
Head coach: Georgios Vovoras
President: Panagiotis Triantopoulos
Official website: www.paobc.gr

Where to watch

LIVE: Match TV (19:40), Match! Strana (replay at 22:50), Match! Igra (replay at 01:40), EuroLeague TV, matchtv.ru
Text online: EuroLeague website

GAME NOTES

Khimki holds a 5-4 edge all-time in games against Panathinaikos and has won the last four home games, including a 103-86 decision last season when Alexey Shved paced six double-digit scorers with 26 points.

Nemanja Nedovic won the silver medal at the 2016 Olympics playing alongside Khimki point guard Stefan Jovic with the Serbian national team. Nedovic and Jovic also won silver together at the 2014 World Cup.

Sergey Karasev, Janis Timma, Andrey Desiatnikov and Aaron White played for Zenit St Petersburg in season 2016/2017.

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Rimas Kurtinaitis, Khimki Moscow Region head coach:

“Right now, all the teams have problems. We had these problems in the first games of the VTB United League, but we have already got used to it and now we are preparing for the EuroLeague tip-off. We know our opponent Panathinaikos well, but we have to play our game to win. We will be ready. In terms of emotions, we got a positive charge in Krasnoyarsk, having beaten Enisey recently. It's not even about winning, it's about the game itself that was good, with the energy that we lacked before. We have good practices, although we still do not have a full roster, so those who are now in the squad must work for the injured guys”.

Jordan Mickey, Khimki Moscow Region forward:

“They're a good team historically. They have always been a good team. It's gonna be a challenge. We have to come out ready and play our game. The key point will be definitely rebounding. I think they are a little bit bigger than we are, so we have to rebound the ball to limit them to one shot for possession. We can't let them get easy looks. That's the biggest thing for us. This is the first EuroLeague game and everybody is going to be a little on edge. We've gone about five, six months without playing EuroLeague. So everybody's going to be excited”.