Panathinaikos signs Sylven Francisco, the player who defeated them three times

French guard Sylven Francisco is set to join Panathinaikos, adding another compatriot to the team alongside Falk, Yabusele, and Lessort. Francisco's move to the Athens-based club marks a significant career advancement for the player.

Francisco previously played in Greece for Peristeri during the 2022-23 season under coach Vassilis Spanoulis. He was instrumental in Peristeri's strong performance, nearly leading them to the league championship final. During that season, his market value was estimated at around 210,000 euros.

Peristeri notably defeated Panathinaikos three times during that season, including a crucial Game 5 victory in the playoff series where Francisco scored 24 points, shooting 5-of-5 from three-point range. Despite his impressive performance, the article suggests that his potential was underestimated by many Greek teams at the time.

After his stint in Greece, Francisco moved to Bayern Munich and then to Zalgiris Kaunas, a team known for developing talented players. Panathinaikos is reportedly offering him a contract worth over 3 million euros annually. The club is acquiring a player described as being similar in age to teammate George Papagiannis (both born in 1997), taller by ten centimeters (1.85m vs 1.75m), with a better three-point shot, leadership qualities, and defensive capabilities.

If Francisco can adapt to coach Dimitris Obradovic's system and replicate his standout performances from his time under Spanoulis, he could prove to be a highly valuable addition to Panathinaikos's backcourt.