They left at dawn, when the city was still asleep in a thin layer of late-summer mist. Suitcases were neatly packed, smiles exchanged in the waiting hall — but few of the PAOK fans standing there realized that this flight to Venice was not just a training excursion. This was a silent declaration, a way for the team to say they are no longer content to sit still in the safe zone of the domestic league.

For years, Greek basketball has been obsessed with the dominance of Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. Teams like PAOK, despite their rich tradition, have always been relegated to the group of "the others." They play in European competitions but are rarely mentioned in discussions about titles. And then, a seemingly simple decision — choosing Italy as the destination for the pre-season period — inadvertently exposed an ambition much larger than what the surface of the story shows.

Data on PAOK's tour itinerary in Italy (September 2026)

| Date | Location | Opponent | Nature | |------|----------|---------|--------| | 5/9 | Udine | Udine | Piera Pagetta Memorial Tournament | | 6/9 | Udine | Reggio Emilia / Napoli | Piera Pagetta Memorial Tournament (final / placement) | | 12/9 | Biella | Armani Milan | Friendly |

Source: Official PAOK schedule and club announcements.

The truth no one says out loud: This is a strategic gamble

When a team from a lower-ranked league accepts to face squads that are wealthier and have more roster depth, they are putting themselves at a disadvantage. But that disadvantage is exactly what they need. Playing against Udine, a team with disciplined Serie A play, is completely different from facing familiar opponents in the Greek league. Every possession, every set play forces PAOK's players to rethink what they have learned. That is something no coaching manual can simulate.

Armani Milan, the opponent in the friendly on 12/9, is a completely different story. It is a team with an operating budget several times larger than the total value of PAOK's roster. They have players who have played in the NBA, a tactical system built by some of Europe's top basketball minds. Facing them is not about winning — it is about measuring. To see how far the gap between a "Greek mid-tier team" and a "EuroLeague contender" really is.

Where could I be wrong?

Maybe I am overinflating the meaning of a routine tour. Perhaps PAOK's management simply wanted to give players new experiences, a change of scenery before the long season. Or maybe choosing Italy was merely for convenient scheduling and more reasonable costs compared to flying to Spain or Turkey.

But I do not believe in randomness in elite sports. Every choice, no matter how small, stems from some calculation. And choosing to face Armani Milan — a team with EuroLeague championship ambitions — is not a coincidence. It is a statement that PAOK does not want to remain forever a shadow in Greek basketball.

So, what awaits them?

Look at the schedule. On 5/9 they face Udine, on 6/9 they may face Reggio Emilia or Napoli. Three days later, they travel to Biella to face Armani Milan. A dense schedule, demanding high physical fitness and concentration. But it is precisely in these harsh conditions that one sees the true character of a collective.

What happens on Italian soil will not be fully reflected in the scoreboard. What matters more is how PAOK handles the pressure, how they adapt to different playing styles, and how they find new solutions when old ones are shut down. These are invaluable lessons that can only be learned by stepping out of the comfort zone.

When the wheels start turning

I have been following European basketball for 30 years, and I can recognize one thing: teams that dare to face challenges bigger than their current ability are usually teams on an upward trajectory. They may lose in the short term, but they learn more than they lose. Conversely, teams that only know how to protect their results in a familiar environment tend to stagnate and fall behind.

PAOK has just sent a clear message. They are not going to Italy as tourists. They are going to learn, to test their limits, and to prepare for a season they hope will be different. Whether they succeed or not, time will tell. But at least, they did not choose the safe route.

And in a world where safety is often prioritized over courage, that is already a victory.

They call me a troublemaker. I am just listening to the squeak of the wheels. And this squeak, coming from the flight to Venice, sounds like a promise of something bigger.