Hapoel Tel Aviv Stuns Panathinaikos in EuroLeague Upset
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv achieved one of its biggest wins in history, defeating EuroLeague leader Panathinaikos Athens 91-81 on Friday. The team expressed confidence in their ability to reach the Final Four this season. Key player Vasilije Micić highlighted the team's character, while owner Ofer Yanai called the victory "incredible."
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated EuroLeague leader Panathinaikos Athens 91-81 in a major upset.
- The club believes they are "one of the best teams in the EuroLeague" and aims for the Final Four.
- Player Vasilije Micić stated the team "wanted to show character" in the victory.
- Coach Dimitris Itoudis and players like Bruno Caboclo and Elijah Bryant were praised for their contributions.
- Owner Ofer Yanai called the unexpected win "incredible."
Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a significant 91-81 victory over Panathinaikos Athens on Friday, marking one of the club's greatest wins in its history. The game, played in Athens, saw Hapoel hand the Greek team their first loss of the season in European competition. The win also featured a notable coaching matchup between Dimitris Itoudis of Hapoel and his former mentor, Željko Obradović, who coaches Panathinaikos.
Following the game, the club expressed confidence in their standing, stating, "We are one of the best teams in the EuroLeague." They highlighted their composure during a comeback in the game and expressed belief in reaching the Final Four this season. Player Vasilije Micić, who scored a crucial three-pointer, emphasized the team's desire to "show character," which he felt they successfully did against a tough opponent.
Commentator Amir Kophi praised Hapoel's performance, noting the win against the "EuroLeague leader" and the valuable lessons learned from the game. He described the team as "fighters" who stick together through difficult moments. The club also commended coach Itoudis for his preparation and strategic contributions, citing his impact in previous games and his ability to make effective substitutions, such as bringing in Ish Wainwright and Bruno Caboclo.
Several players received praise for their contributions. Bruno Caboclo scored eight points without a miss in limited minutes. Elijah Bryant added 14 points and made significant plays in the second half, aiming to be the EuroLeague MVP. Zach Leday was the team's leading scorer with 17 points, the most he has scored in an Hapoel uniform. Despite the impressive win, the team aims to remain humble as they prepare for upcoming games against Maccabi Ashdod and Virtus Bologna.
Hapoel Tel Aviv owner Ofer Yanai expressed admiration for Panathinaikos's owner, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, calling him a "strategist" and emphasizing the importance of building a team step-by-step. Yanai admitted he expected to lose but was amazed by the victory, calling it "incredible."
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