GRE - Pana clinch Javtokas signing

ATHENS (HEBA) - Panathinaikos are pulling out all stops to make sure they reach the Euroleague Final Four to be played in Athens next year with Lithuanian big man Robertas Javtokas the club's latest signing.

The Greek giants have swooped for the 28-year-old, who had been expected to join the San Antonio Spurs before negotiations broke down last week.

Herb Rudoy, Javtokas' agent, said: "Robertas was very disappointed. He expected to have serious negotiations, and they didn't want to make him a serious offer.
"It's a shame because we thought this was the summer (for him to come to the NBA)."

San Antonio's loss is Pananthinaikos' gain.

Javtokas is the second Lithuanian to move to the Greens, with Ramunas Siskauskas having joined after helping Benetton Treviso win the Italian title. Panathinaikos have also acquired Greece international Dimosthenis Ntikoudis.

The 6ft 11in Javtokas was one of his country's emerging stars before getting seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident in 2002. He was unable to play the following season and missed Lithuania's EuroBasket 2003 gold-medal triumph but the player, who is now 26, did return the following campaign and played for the Baltic giants at the Olympics, helping them reach the semi-finals.

He was voted MVP of the 2005 ULEB Cup after leading Lietuvos Rytas to the title.

Panathinaikos confirmed his signing on the club's official website, saying: "Robertas Javtokas is officially a Panathinaikos player, bringing the transfers for the new season to a total of three. The Lithuanian center signed a two-year contract (1+1) and is the third addition to the roster after Dimos Dikoudis and Ramunas Siskauskas."

Graham Wood
PA Sport, Athens