Hapoel Tel Aviv kept its EuroCup season alive with a hard-fought 96-91 victory over Valencia, setting the stage for a do-or-die Game 3 in Spain. Despite playing on neutral ground in Bulgaria due to security concerns in Israel, the Reds found inspiration from more than 2,000 traveling fans and delivered a statement performance.
A Fight for Survival in Bulgaria
Down 1-0 in the best-of-three series, Hapoel Tel Aviv needed a response after falling 91-82 in Game 1 at La Fonteta. With their season on the line, head coach Dimitrios Itoudis orchestrated a game plan that delivered early results. Yam Madar got the team rolling with a quick 7-0 run, and Johnathan Motley’s inside presence secured a 54-49 halftime lead.
Momentum shifted in the third quarter when Antonio Blakeney put on a scoring clinic, pushing Hapoel ahead 71-55. But Valencia wasn’t ready to fold. Led by Chris Jones, Nathan Reuvers, and Stefan Jovic, the Spanish side stormed back, cutting the deficit to five points entering the final period.
Madar, Blakeney, and Motley Step Up
The fourth quarter turned into a battle of endurance. Despite nursing an injury, Madar continued to make key plays, while Blakeney maintained his offensive aggression. They held off a late push from Valencia’s Matt Costello and Jean Montero to seal the win.
- Johnathan Motley: 26 points, 8 rebounds
- Antonio Blakeney: 22 points
- Yam Madar: 21 points, 9 assists
On the opposing side, Costello led Valencia with 21 points, while Reuvers and Jovic combined for 24.
“A Historic Victory”
Following the game, Itoudis praised his squad for executing under pressure.
“This was an important and historic victory for us until the next one. We are building something good, and this is another brick in the foundation,” he said.
Blakeney credited the team’s composure: “We didn’t turn the ball over, and we have a talented team, so we are going to find a way to score. The coach and my teammates trust me. My work is paying off.”
Captain Bar Timor echoed the sentiment: “We gave it our all. We knew we had to play a full 40 minutes, unlike last game when we faded in the second half. Fortunately, we made big plays and got the win.”
Maccabi Tel Aviv Falls in EuroLeague
While Hapoel celebrated, their city rivals faced disappointment in the EuroLeague. Maccabi Tel Aviv fell 90-88 to Anadolu Efes in a thriller played in Riga, Latvia, due to security concerns in both Israel and Turkey.
Maccabi, already shorthanded, lost center Trevion Williams before the game. Despite that, Rokas Jokubaitis and Roman Sorkin kept them competitive, but former Maccabi star Elijah Bryant torched his old team with 25 points. Rodrigue Beaubois’ late free throw sealed the win for Efes.
- Roman Sorkin: 22 points
- Rokas Jokubaitis: 19 points
- Levi Randolph & Jake Cohen: 10 points each
Head coach Oded Katash found positives in the loss.
“If someone told me we’d be this close in the final seconds, I would have laughed. All credit to the players,” he said.
Hapoel Holon Wins in Israeli League Action
In domestic play, Hapoel Holon secured a 77-67 win over Maccabi Ramat Gan.
The game was tight at halftime, with Ramat Gan holding a 43-42 edge, but Holon’s Mike Davis took control in the second half. He and Justin Alston provided the scoring punch needed to secure victory.
| Player | Team | Points Scored |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Davis | Hapoel Holon | 22 |
| Justin Alston | Hapoel Holon | 20 |
| Netanel Artzi | Hapoel Holon | 9 |
| Kendale McCullum | Maccabi Ramat Gan | 14 |
| Drew Crawford | Maccabi Ramat Gan | 14 |
| Adam Ariel | Maccabi Ramat Gan | 12 |
Hapoel Holon coach Guy Kaplan emphasized the importance of the win: “We have a tough stretch of road games coming up. We need to bring our energy every night.”
For Maccabi Ramat Gan, turnovers were the killer. “You can’t win when you turn the ball over 17 times,” said coach Shmulik Brenner.
All Eyes on Game 3 in Valencia
With Hapoel Tel Aviv’s EuroCup season still alive, Wednesday’s Game 3 in Valencia is now a must-watch. The team’s resilience has been tested all season, and they’ll need another inspired performance to keep their championship hopes intact.
