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Antonio Blakeney was Hapoel’s X-Factor on its historic night

Antonio Blakeney was Hapoel’s X-Factor on its historic night

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Antonio Blakeney was Hapoel’s X-Factor on its historic night

The sharpshooter began the EuroLeague season just like he finished last year in the BKT EuroCup — on fire.

Regular Season

Round 1 of 38

game FC Barcelona vs Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv

Regular Season

Hapoel IBI Tel AvivHTA

10387

FC BarcelonaBAR

Overview

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv made history by defeating FC Barcelona 103–89 in its first-ever EuroLeague game. All eyes were on Vasa Micic, as he made his long-awaited return to the competition after two seasons away. He didn’t disappoint, opening the game with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer and sealing the win with a late triple.

While several Hapoel players caught Barça off guard, those familiar with the BKT EuroCup knew exactly what to expect from Antonio Blakeney.

Last season, Blakeney was unstoppable in the EuroCup’s biggest moments. He posted 32 points and 9 rebounds for a PIR of 30 in Game 3 of the semifinals against Valencia Basket, and dominated the finals against Gran Canaria with averages of 22.0 points and 5.5 rebounds for a PIR of 23.5. Coming off the bench, he brought his trademark defensive intensity and instant offense, scoring in a variety of ways.

Blakeney made an immediate impact on Tuesday, becoming the first player to reach double digits in scoring. He delivered a momentum-shifting block on Dario Brizuela early in the second quarter. Entering the game with Barça leading 14–15 and 3 minutes left in the first quarter, he helped flip the score to 42–39 by the time he returned to the bench. In the third quarter, Blakeney scored 6 unanswered points to push Hapoel ahead for good at 77–61. He added another block on Myles Cale at the start of the fourth.

Game Videos

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv-FC Barcelona | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
00:10
Oturu's put-back dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
00:10
Brizuela beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
Catch the first episode of this season's Fantasy Challenge Podcast
Legends Speak: Vasilije Micic
Top plays of 2024-25: FC Barcelona
Top plays: Kevin Punter, 2024-25
AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | Playoffs Game 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
00:36
Jabari Parker: 'The Barcelona fans are amazing'
00:54
Youssoupha Fall: 'We will keep that same energy'
FC Barcelona-AS Monaco | Playoffs Game 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
00:07
Satoransky's huge block! Motorola Magic Moment
00:48
Willy Hernangomez: 'Friday, we have another big opportunity'
00:24
Kevin Punter: 'It was a must-win for us'
FC Barcelona-AS Monaco | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
00:18
Parker seals the outcome! Motorola Magic Moment
00:23
Parker's huge buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
00:18
Brizuela finds Parra! Motorola Magic Moment
AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
00:21
Parker flushes on Barca fast break! Motorola Magic Moment,
AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Xavi Pascual, Boniface N'Dong remember 2010 title triumph on The Crossover
Dreamland Gran Canaria-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Finals Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
00:45
Kevin Punter: 'True testament of us being a team'
FC Barcelona-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
00:20
Willy posterizes Toko! Motorola Magic Moment
00:11
Bingham with the poster dunk! Magic Moment
The Fantasy Challenge Podcast prepares for the end of the regular season
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Dreamland Gran Canaria | Finals Game 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
00:24
Blakeney puts Conditt on a poster! Magic Moment of the Night
01:15
Johnathan Motley: 'If we keep playing defense like this, we are gonna be hard to beat'
00:08
What a super-block by Caboclo! Magic Moment
00:12
Motley stops Tobey on the way to the hoop! Magic Moment
00:51
Antonio Blakeney: 'It was a hard-fought win'
Valencia Basket-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | SF Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
00:42
Foster wins it! Magic Moment of the Night
01:26
Jabari Parker: 'We just wanted it more'
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-FC Barcelona | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
00:14
Hernangomez says no! Motorola Magic Moment
The Fantasy Challenge Podcast presents: The Barcelona dilemma
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Valencia Basket | SF Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
00:13
Motley rejects Montero! Magic Moment
00:12
Foster with the show and go! Magic Moment
00:09
Ginat fakes out Sestina and scores! Magic Moment
00:12
Bingham with the rejection! Magic Moment
01:48
Dario Brizuela: 'Today we woke up with the will to compete with high intensity'
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-FC Barcelona | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
00:32
Barca's hustle play! Motorola Magic Moment
FC Barcelona-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Valencia Basket-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | SF Game 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup

Alle anzeigen

In his EuroLeague debut, Blakeney needed just 19 minutes to score 20 points, shooting 3-of-4 from deep and a perfect 11-of-11 from the line. He also recorded 2 blocks and drew 4 fouls for a PIR of 22. Micic and Dan Oturu each added 18 points.

Hapoel’s 103 points were nearly the most ever scored against Barça in a non-overtime game. The record belongs to Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, which beat Barça 104–80 at Palau Blaugrana on April 7, 2022.

“I think we played hard. We followed the game plan, obviously. They’re a great team, and I can’t say we did anything much better, but we had a click tonight and that’s good,” Blakeney said after the game. “It’s the first game, so we just have to build on that.

“We’re dynamic. We have a lot of offensive options. We all trust each other. We just have to stick together and keep playing,” he added.

Hapoel will face Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Podgorica, Montenegro in Round 2 on Friday.