Panathinaikos in trouble: Ioannis Papapetrou expected to undergo surgery / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens knocked down short-handed Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz at the OAKA on Friday night, but the situation in the Greens' ranks is not all roses.

Player of the Game EFF 18 Jeremy Evans Points 14 Accuracy 6-7 Rebounds 3 Assists 1

Team captain Ioannis Papapetrou is expected to pass the operating room door either immediately or after the Final 4 of the Greek Cup, scheduled for 18-20 February. Papapetrou continues to suffer from the problem he has with his sinuses, which makes it very difficult for him to breathe.

Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the hollow spaces within the bones between the eyes, behind the cheekbones, and in the forehead. Healthy sinuses are filled with air. But when they become blocked and filled with fluid, germs can grow and cause an infection.

As coach Dimitris Priftis stated in the press conference after PAO's victory over Baskonia, the 27-year-old forward needed hospitalization, something which reveals the seriousness of the situation.

"We have problems that people don't know of. Papapetrou shouldn't have played tonight because yesterday (Thursday) he went to the hospital.

It's almost certain that he'll have to undergo surgery. The week he was away, he was dealing with sinusitis, and he had lost his rhythm," the Greek coach stressed.

According to SDNA.gr, surgery is a one-way street for Papapetrou since conservative treatment does not seem to solve the problem.All that remains to be seen is whether the operation will be performed immediately (within the next very few days, that is) or Papapetrou will keep playing for the next three weeks leading up to the Greek Cup Final Four.

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