Tepic signs for Panathinaikos

Tepic to play for PAO

11-06-2009 12:53

One of basketball's most versatile young guards switched Euroleague teams on Thursday when Panathinaikos announced the signing of Milenko Tepic to a multi-year deal with the reigning Euroleague champions.

Tepic (198, 22) arrives from Partizan, where he averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 18 games this Euroleague season, helping his team reach the Quarterfinal Playoffs for the second time in a row.

Among all Euroleague players, only Tepic and his new teammate, Dimitris Diamantidis, averaged more than 3 assists and 3 rebounds last season.

Tepic has won three Serbian League and Adriatic League titles with Partizan in as many seasons with the team. He also lifted the Serbian Radivoj Korac Cup in 2008 - earning Final Eight MVP honors - and 2009.

He is a regular member of the Serbian national team, too. Tepic played for Vojvodina before joining Partizan in summer 2006. He helped Serbia to win the 2005 under-18 European Championships in Belgrade and to win back-to-back under-20 European Championships in 2006 and 2007. Tepic arrived in Athens on Wednesday and signed the contract today.

"I am proud to play for Panathinaikos with my former teammate Nikola Pekovic and for a coach like Zeljko Obradovic," Tepic said in Athens. "I have heard so many positive things about Panathinaikos and the city of Athens that it is an honor to be part of this group. I have signed because I felt that I am ready. I spent three wonderful years in Partizan but am also glad to play in the best team in Europe."