Hapoel Tel Aviv Stuns Panathinaikos in EuroLeague Upset
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv achieved a major 89-79 EuroLeague road win against Panathinaikos, inflicting their first loss of the season. Player Zach LeDay cited the victory as his reason for joining the team, while coach Dimitris Itoudis praised his players' composure and belief. The win improves Hapoel Tel Aviv's record to 4-2 and signals their ambition to go far in the competition.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Panathinaikos 89-79 on the road in a significant EuroLeague upset.
- The victory was Panathinaikos's first loss of the EuroLeague season.
- Player Zach LeDay stated the win was the reason he joined Hapoel Tel Aviv.
- The win improved Hapoel Tel Aviv's record to 4-2 in the EuroLeague.
- Coach Dimitris Itoudis praised his team's composure and belief during the game.
Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a significant 89-79 road victory against Panathinaikos, handing the Greek team its first loss of the EuroLeague season. This win, considered one of the greatest by an Israeli team in European competitions in recent years, propelled Hapoel Tel Aviv to a 4-2 record, placing them among the league's top teams. Player Zach LeDay stated the victory was the reason he joined the club, highlighting the team's quality and the importance of winning such games. He emphasized the team's ability to stay calm, trust each other, and focus on small details, suggesting they can be one of Europe's best when playing strong defense.
Coach Dimitris Itoudis praised his players for their composure and belief, noting that consistency leads to good outcomes. He pointed to a key moment when the team established a 71-61 lead, after which they slowed the pace and played more aggressively. Itoudis also stressed the importance of team solidarity, stating it makes a team unstoppable. He reminded the team not to have short memories, referencing an earlier loss to Bayern Munich, and expressed satisfaction with players understanding game momentum.
Itoudis acknowledged Panathinaikos as an "amazing" team and mentioned a positive exchange of ideas between the clubs. He expressed his desire for Hapoel Tel Aviv to fully realize its potential, especially after achieving four wins in two double-game weeks. Player Elijah Bryant added that the team arrived with confidence, trusted each other, and remained focused on the win, echoing the coach's emphasis on mutual trust.
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