Panathinaikos Suffers First EuroLeague Loss Against Hapoel Tel Aviv
Panathinaikos suffered its first loss of the EuroLeague season on Friday, falling 81-91 to Hapoel Tel Aviv at home. Despite a standout 22-point performance from Sylvain Francisco, defensive lapses in the opening quarter allowed the Israeli club to establish control.
Defensive Breakdowns and First-Quarter Struggles
Panathinaikos struggled to contain Hapoel’s perimeter shooting and one-on-one drives from the opening tip. Francisco pointed directly to a lack of concentration in the first period, which permitted the visitors to feel comfortable and dictate the pace. The home side missed several open looks and three-pointers on the offensive end, but defensive lapses—particularly allowing easy ball movement and high-scoring output—formed the core of the defeat. The squad entered the matchup riding a five-game winning streak before running into an efficient Hapoel offense led by Zach LeDay’s 17 points and Elijah Bryant’s 14 points. Additional scoring for Panathinaikos included Brancou Badio with 12 points, alongside Nigel Hayes-Davis and Jerian Grant with 8 points apiece, while Hapoel received 9 points each from Antonio Blakeney and Vasilije Micičius.
Late Game Surge Falls Short for the Squad
The Greek club mounted a fourth-quarter comeback, erasing a double-digit deficit to briefly claim a 72-71 lead after an 11-0 run. Mathias Lessort contributed 11 points for Panathinaikos, bringing the hosts within one point at 78-79 with three minutes remaining. However, crucial three-pointers from Elijah Bryant, Zach LeDay, and Vasilije Micičius sealed the outcome for Hapoel. Micičius hit a late three-pointer with 68 seconds remaining to extinguish Panathinaikos’ hopes.
Sylvain Francisco in his Panathinaikos DEBUT!!! W in home opener!!!18 POINTS4 ASSISTS2 REBOUNDS6/11 FG22 MINUTES PLAYED pic.twitter.com/YrZ8DfqSG6
Upcoming EuroLeague Fixtures and Standings Impact
Following the conclusion of the sixth round, Panathinaikos holds a 5-1 record in the EuroLeague standings. The team looks to rebound when they host Tadas Sedekerskis and Baskonia on October 22. Meanwhile, Hapoel Tel Aviv improved to a 4-2 record.
Other EuroLeague Results
In another EuroLeague fixture on Friday, Crvena Zvezda Belgrade defeated Paris 90-81 at home in Serbia, bringing their record to 4-2 while Paris dropped to 1-5. Paris played without their leading scorer Nadiras Hifi, who averages 20.3 points per game but missed the contest due to an ankle injury. Chima Moneke led Crvena Zvezda with 23 points, followed by Jared Butler with 13 points and Jordan Nwora with 12 points, whereas Paris was paced by Tysonas Etienne with 24 points and 7 assists, Sebastian Herrera with 14 points, and Daulton Hommes with 8 points. Meanwhile, Baskonia fell to a 1-5 record after an 86-78 away defeat against Virtus Bologna, who improved to 4-2. Tadas Sedekerskis recorded a double-double for Baskonia with 11 points and 10 rebounds in nearly 28 minutes, joined in double figures by A. J. Lawson with 13 points and DJ Stewart with 12 points, while Virtus relied on 20 points from M. Carras. Bello.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Sylvain Francisco’s statistical line against Hapoel Tel Aviv?
Sylvain Francisco recorded 22 points on 6-of-8 two-point shooting, 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-5 free throws, adding 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 27 index rating points in 26.5 minutes on the floor.
Who were the leading scorers for Hapoel Tel Aviv in the victory?
Zach LeDay led Hapoel with 17 points, followed by Elijah Bryant with 14 points and Daniel Oturu with 13 points.
When do Panathinaikos play their next EuroLeague game?
Panathinaikos returns to EuroLeague action on October 22, playing a home fixture against Baskonia and Tadas Sedekerskis.
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