Israeli Basketball Stars Lofton and Sanogo Win European Weekly MVP Honors
Kenny Lofton Jr. of Hapoel Jerusalem and Adama Sanogo of Hapoel Holon have won European basketball MVP honors for their stellar performances, with Sanogo setting a historic FIBA record.
Two standout players in Israeli basketball have earned prestigious individual European honors. Kenny Lofton Jr. of Hapoel Jerusalem was named EuroCup Round 3 MVP, while Adama Sanogo of Hapoel Holon claimed the Player of the Week title in the FIBA Champions League, with Sanogo also setting an unprecedented tournament record.
Lofton spearheaded Hapoel Jerusalem to a dramatic 85-84 away victory over Spanish side San Pablo Burgos, pouring in 28 points on exceptional shooting percentages. The forward went 9-for-12 from two-point range, hit his lone three-pointer, and was perfect from the free-throw line at 7-for-7. He added six rebounds, drew seven fouls, and finished with a performance index rating (PIR) of 33, the highest among players from winning teams in the third round.
Meanwhile, Sanogo delivered a stellar performance for Hapoel Holon against Serbian champion Spartak Subotica. The center scored 28 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the field, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, while anchoring the defense with five blocks. This historic stat line made him the first player in FIBA Champions League history to record at least 25 points and five blocks in a single game. He earned a PIR of 29, the highest of any player in the round, securing the MVP award.
