PAOK leave Metsovo for Udine: Calathes - Osman duo key to Italian tour

PAOK have officially closed their training camp in Metsovo and moved to a new chapter of their preseason journey: Italy. The ten-day trip under coach Andrea Trinchieri is not just an opportunity to test the squad but also an early answer to the big question: what brand of basketball will PAOK play in the EuroCup next season? The most notable highlight of this tour is the presence of the duo Nick Calathes and Cedi Osman. Both are ready to play, while Bryn Tyree is the only name who must stay home due to injury. EuroCup, the competition PAOK are targeting, has also spoken about this duo with a message full of expectation: "We can't wait to see this duo". That expectation is justified, as these are two names with a class and top-level playing experience rarely seen in the continental club arena. The trip begins on the morning of Friday, September 4, when the whole team moves from Metsovo to Venice before traveling on to Udine. The first destination is a friendly tournament organized in memory of Piera Paglieta. According to the schedule, PAOK will face the hosts Udine at 21:30 on Saturday, September 5. The result of this match will determine whether the Greek team will face Reggio Emilia or Napoli in the small or big final on Sunday, September 6. This competition format provides a real test, forcing PAOK to maintain focus and playing rhythm on two consecutive days. This is exactly what coach Trinchieri needs to assess the fitness and chemistry of the squad in the context of playing with a dense schedule, simulating as closely as possible the grueling calendar of a long season. Based on my experience following matches, arranging a small tournament in early September is a bold but reasonable choice. It helps the coaching staff get a clear picture of squad rotation ability and game tempo control, something that training sessions, no matter how high the intensity, can hardly replicate. After the tournament in Udine, PAOK will travel to Milan on Monday, September 7 to begin a comprehensive week of training. The highlight of this phase is the match against Armani Milan, one of the leading forces in Italian basketball and a familiar face in the EuroLeague, at 19:00 on September 12. This match is not just a test of a much higher level compared to the opponents in Udine, but also an opportunity for PAOK players to measure themselves against a team with superior squad depth and class. Tactically, Armani Milan is a very well-organized collective under Ettore Messina. They play disciplined basketball, focus on controlling the tempo, and are particularly strong at exploiting opponents' mistakes. This will be a perfect test for PAOK's defense and the ability of the Calathes-Osman duo to handle pressure against a well-organized defense. Bryn Tyree's absence due to arthroscopic surgery is information that cannot be overlooked. Tyree was expected to be an important link in the ball circulation system and creating breakthroughs from the backcourt. His absence in this preseason phase means Trinchieri will have to find alternative solutions and redistribute playing time among the remaining guards. This inadvertently creates opportunities for young names or new signings to prove their worth. In that context, Calathes' role becomes even more important. His experience and game management ability will be the catalyst to help new teammates integrate faster with the coaching staff's philosophy. Cedi Osman, with his diverse offensive abilities from ball-handling drives to three-point shots, will be the main spearhead in creating a flexible offensive formation. The combination of a smart playmaking guard and an athletic wing is a difficult problem for any defense in the EuroCup. Another positive signal comes from Panathinaikos returning P. Giannakopoulos to PAOK. The return of this player adds depth to the squad, especially at the forward position. Having an additional scoring option from the near-basket area will help PAOK diversify their play and reduce dependence on outside scoring. PAOK's Italian tour may not be decisive for the whole season, but it is an indispensable stepping stone. It shows the team's ambition to build a cohesive collective ready to compete on the European stage. The expectation from EuroCup for the Calathes-Osman duo further intensifies the spotlight on their performance on Italian soil. Can they turn that expectation into reality and lead PAOK to victories? The answer will begin to unfold from Saturday night in Udine.