PAOK kicks off new season with Italy tour: Calathes and Osman ready

PAOK Thessaloniki has officially entered the preseason preparation phase with an Italian tour, starting with the Piera Paglieta Memorial Tournament in Udine. This is a crucial step for the upcoming EuroCup campaign, as the Greek club brings nearly its strongest squad, except for Bryn Tyree who is sidelined due to injury. According to the schedule, PAOK will travel to Venice on Friday morning, September 4, then proceed to Udine. On Saturday, September 5, they will face host Udine at 21:30. The result will determine whether they play the big or small final on Sunday, September 6, against Reggio Emilia or Napoli. Immediately after, the team moves to Milan on Monday, September 7, for a full week of training, before facing Armani Milan on September 12 at 19:00. Head coach Andrea Trinchieri will be in Italy for the entire 10 days to oversee training and matches. His presence, along with the duo of Nick Calathes and Cedi Osman – recently praised by EuroCup as a 'must-watch pair' – brings confidence to PAOK's backcourt. Meanwhile, Bryn Tyree is the only absentee due to arthroscopic surgery, creating a depth challenge early in the season. This tour not only allows PAOK to test fitness and tactics but also gives newcomers a chance to integrate into Trinchieri's system. The Udine tournament – held in memory of former player Piera Paglieta – also carries special emotional significance. With the current roster, PAOK aims to compete strongly in EuroCup this season, and these friendlies in Italy will be the first benchmark for that ambition. Additionally, the return of P. Giannakopoulos from Panathinaikos is a positive sign for the team. However, the depth issue due to Tyree's injury still needs addressing. The upcoming games will show whether Calathes and Osman can handle the primary roles, and whether the bench players can meet demands when the regular season begins.