Guerschon Yabusele stepped up with 17 points to lead Panathinaikos Athens to a 90-67 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague, taking over the team-high scoring mantle from Sylvain Francisco after the first two rounds of the competition.
Yabusele Takes the Scoring Lead Against Maccabi
Panathinaikos left little room for suspense on the floor, racing out to a 25-10 lead after the opening ten minutes. The Greek club built a 19-point cushion by halftime at 43-24 before closing out a 23-point win that moved their early European record to 3-0. Guerschon Yabusele paced the offense with 17 points in just 23 minutes of floor time. The French player shot efficiently, hitting 3 of 5 attempts from two-point range, sinking 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and converting both of his free throw attempts. He rounded out his stat line with 1 rebound and 1 assist.
Francisco and Lessort Sustain the French Core
Alongside Yabusele, Sylvain Francisco continued to steer multiple statistical categories for the Athens side. The point guard finished with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 passes leading to baskets, and 2 steals across 20 minutes of action. While his outside shot dipped to 1 of 8 from three-point distance, Francisco neutralized those misses by sinking 6 of 8 shots from the free throw line. Mathias Lessort added 7 points and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes off 3-of-5 shooting inside the arc plus a converted foul shot. Together, the three French internationals accounted for 35 of the team’s 90 total points, representing 38.9 percent of the offensive output for Panathinaikos.
A Consistent Three-Player Formula in Europe
This third European outing reinforces a scoring pattern established since the opening week of the EuroLeague campaign. During the 91-72 opening victory over Paris Basketball, Francisco led the scoring charge with 18 points, followed by Lessort with 15 and Yabusele with 13, combining for 46 points. Six days later in a 102-79 victory against ASVEL, Francisco again topped the Athens scoresheet with 19 points while Lessort contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds and Yabusele added 9 points and 5 rebounds for another 40 points from the trio. Across the opening three matches—victories over Paris, ASVEL, and Maccabi—Francisco has accumulated 48 points, Yabusele 39, and Lessort 34, totaling 121 points for the three French players as Panathinaikos splits its early offensive responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Panathinaikos French Trio
How many total points have Francisco, Yabusele, and Lessort scored through three EuroLeague matches?
The three French players have combined for 121 total points across the opening three rounds, with Francisco leading at 48 points, Yabusele contributing 39, and Lessort adding 34.
What was Guerschon Yabusele’s shooting efficiency against Maccabi Tel Aviv?
Guerschon Yabusele scored 17 points in 23 minutes against Maccabi by shooting 3 for 5 on two-pointers, 3 for 5 on three-pointers, and 2 for 2 from the free throw line.
Who led Panathinaikos in scoring during the first two rounds of the EuroLeague season?
Sylvain Francisco led the team in scoring during the first two matches, netting 18 points against Paris Basketball and 19 points against ASVEL before Yabusele took over the team-high against Maccabi.
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