Ponitka on going from PAO to Partizan: 'I treat it as a promotion' / News - Basketnews.com

Ponitka said that while other Panathinaikos players signed with teams of a lesser caliber after a bad season, he considers his arrival in Belgrade as a promotion. Ponitka revealed he met Zeljko Obradovic last week. He also briefly discussed Balcerowski's move to PAO.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Panathinaikos Athens made a complete roster rebuild this offseason, with the vast majority of last season's players leaving the organization. One of them was Mateusz Ponitka.

Contrary to others, Ponitka moved to a club that was considered a contender last year - Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. In an interview with Jakub Wojczynski from Przeglad Sportowy, he admitted that he saw the move as an improvement.

"First of all, let's remember that the transfer to Panathinaikos came abruptly after the EuroBasket last year. After all, I was supposed to go to Italy and not play in the EuroLeague," the player recalled. "I think that EuroBasket, which was successful for me, had a big impact on this upcoming 23/24 season."

"I've had some good offers from good teams now, not just Partizan. Panathinaikos was one of the worst teams in the EuroLeague, their players did not sign contracts with strong clubs in the summer, and I did. I treat it as a sports promotion, and as I say - I think it's also thanks to EuroBasket," Ponitka told.

Despite talks about a possible retirement, Ponitka will represent the Polish colors this summer once again. Together with the 30-year-old forward, the Poles played a closed game against Serbia last week. During the visit, he got time to meet with Zeljko Obradovic and Aleksa Avramovic, who he will play with next season.

"At the match against Serbia, I spoke to Aleksa Avramovic, who plays for Partizan. At the hotel, I met with assistant Bogdan Karaicic. Coach Zeljko Obradovic also came, we sat down over coffee and talked," Ponitka shared.

"Everyone who knows him says that if he decides to hire someone, he tries to build a relationship with him and is interested in that player," the player said about Obradovic. "Besides, I've never heard anyone say a bad word about him. Really."

Asked about the image of a screaming Zeljko on the sidelines, Ponitka reiterated similar points to what Zach LeDay told during the playoffs.

"He has the image he has, but on the other hand, he is not nervous without a reason. When players don't listen to his instructions, he gets angry," Ponitka explained.

This upcoming season, Ponitka will not be the only Polish player in the EuroLeague. Aleksander Balcerowski will play for Ponitka former club - Panathinaikos Athens.

"We talked. I told him what my season in Athens was like, what the club is like, and what I know about it. And that's it because everyone makes their own decisions," Ponitka told about his conversations with Balcerowski.

"Olek will play in the Euroleague with a big team, and it will be a good experience for him. Fingers crossed."

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