Hapoel Tel Aviv Stuns Panathinaikos in EuroLeague Upset
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv achieved a historic 91-81 victory over Panathinaikos in Athens, handing the Greek team its first European loss of the season. The win was attributed to the team's composure and character, with players and staff expressing belief in their potential to reach the Final Four. Despite the significant upset, the team is focusing on upcoming games and maintaining humility.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Panathinaikos 91-81 in a major EuroLeague upset.
- The victory was Panathinaikos's first European loss of the current season.
- Player Vasilije Micić hit a crucial three-pointer to seal the win.
- Elijah Bryant scored 22 points, and Zach LeDay led the team with 17 points.
- Hapoel's owner, Ofer Yanai, praised Panathinaikos's owner, Dimitris Giannakopoulos.
- The team aims to remain humble despite the significant win.
Hapoel Tel Aviv secured one of the biggest wins in its history, defeating Panathinaikos 91-81 on Friday night at the OAKA arena. This victory handed the Greek team its first loss of the season in European competition and marked a significant encounter between coaches Dimitris Itoudis and his former mentor Željko Obradović.
Club officials declared, "We are one of the best teams in the EuroLeague," attributing the win to "composure in the comeback minutes." They expressed confidence in making a "further step this year and reaching the Final Four." Player Vasilije Micić, who sealed the win with a crucial three-pointer, stated, "We wanted to show character and we did. We achieved a great victory against a very tough opponent."
Commentator Amir Kopie noted, "We beat one of the best teams in the EuroLeague, the leader of the EuroLeague." He added that "there is a reason they reached there" and that "we can take a lot from this game going forward." He described the team as "fighters, in everything. We stay together even when it's tough. We will give everything and move forward together."
The team praised Itoudis, who served as an assistant coach under Obradović from 1999 to 2012, for his preparation. "He always proves he comes ready for opponents," they said, crediting him for the win against Real Madrid and the current victory. They highlighted the contributions of Josh Wainwright, who added value during less strong periods, and Bruno Caboclo, who scored eight points without a miss in five minutes.
Elijah Bryant was also commended for his 14 points and significant plays in the second half. Bryant, the EuroLeague's top-rated player, finished with 22 points, outscoring Mathias Lessort who had 11. Hapoel recently stated that the EuroLeague MVP award is a goal for Bryant. Zach LeDay was the team's leading scorer with 17 points, his highest total for Hapoel.
Despite the significant win, the team aims to remain humble ahead of upcoming games against Maccabi Ashdod and Virtus Bologna. Micić commented, "It's too early to talk about the rest of the season. This win is good for our confidence. I am very pleased with the approach."
Owner Ofer Yanai expressed admiration for Dimitris Giannakopoulos, calling him a "strategist" and "full of passion" rather than "crazy." Yanai emphasized the importance of building a team "step by step," learning and adding pieces over time, stating, "You cannot build a great team in a year." He admitted, "I was sure we would lose. This victory is amazing."
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