Cyprus Times

Concerns at Panathinaikos Regarding Mustafa Fal

Published March 18, 2026, 17:10
Concerns at Panathinaikos Regarding Mustafa Fal

Tension arose at Panathinaikos during the match against AEK, due to coach Ergin Ataman's sharp remarks about Dyson Holmes at halftime. Simultaneously, there is relief within the team regarding the return of Mathias Lessort, who is a key player. However, Ataman knows that the season is not over and the demands remain high. Panathinaikos' attention is now focused on the upcoming final matches against Olympiacos, where a difficult battle in the paint is expected. Olympiacos boasts an imposing frontcourt duo, with Nikola Milutinov and Mustafa Fal, which requires Panathinaikos to be fully prepared and have stability in their defense. Lessort, standing at 2.18m, is a key defensive figure for Panathinaikos and stands out for his playmaking ability from the center position. His return gives Ataman more confidence, but the team needs to find solutions behind Lessort to counter the strength of Olympiacos' paint. Ataman aims to have his team in top condition for the final battles, with an emphasis on defensive stability and effectiveness in the paint, in order to successfully face the challenge posed by the Milutinov-Fal duo.