Gabriel Made a Stunning Impression on Ataman and His Teammates in His Debut
Venjen Gabriel (number 32) with his teammates at last night’s game. Photo: Euroleague.net
Matias Lessor’s significant injury compelled Panathinaikos to seek a replacement for the French center. The search was brief, ultimately leading them to the South Sudanese representative, Venjen Gabriel.
Gabriel arrived in Athens on Monday from Miami, and he made his debut for the current European champion last night in Munich against Bayern. The debut was impressive—over 30 minutes of play, he recorded six points, eight rebounds, two steals, and five blocks, achieving a utility index of 16. Remarkably, his plus/minus stood at +30.
Pao celebrated a victory in Munich (80:69), handing Bayern their first home defeat of the season in the Euroleague, and Gabriel hinted at the potential he holds as a valuable addition to the team.
“Venjen stood out tonight. He truly made significant improvements. We faced Bayern, a strong team that had been on a home-winning streak in the Euroleague. This was a substantial challenge for us. However, we were motivated. We played for Matias Lesor, and we will continue to play for him for the rest of the season,” stated Panathinaikos player Kendrick Nunn, who scored 27 points in the game against Bayern.
Lesor will certainly be missed by his teammates for the remainder of the season, but Gabriel will strive to fill the gap effectively.
“It was a challenging game. I want to dedicate this victory to Matias. We miss him dearly, but tonight Gabriel contributed significantly. I wouldn’t say he replaced Lesor, but he brought us extra tenacity, which is crucial for us,” praised his new teammate, Kostas Slukas.
After the game, Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman expressed his surprise.
“Before the match, I informed the assistants that he would likely play for only four or five minutes at most, as he hadn’t fully grasped all our plays yet. However, sometimes not all practiced plays are necessary during the game. We executed pick-and-rolls simply. Once I noticed his significant impact on our defense, I decided to give him more playing time,” Ataman remarked post-game in Munich.
Gabriel ended up playing 30 minutes, with all six of his points coming from dunks, and three of his eight rebounds being offensive.
Although Lesor will be missed by Panathinaikos for the remainder of the season, Gabriel’s performance suggests that the team may navigate this period more easily.
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