Hapoel Tel Aviv Dominates Balkan Botvgrad in Season Opener Friendly

Hapoel Tel Aviv began their 2026/2027 season preparations with a commanding 101-76 victory over Balkan Botvgrad in their first preseason game on August 29. After a slow start trailing 15-9, coach Dimitris Itoudis called a timeout, sparking a 15-2 run that gave the team a significant lead they maintained throughout the match. Key players Amir Coffey and Vasilije Micić stood out, with Micić hitting crucial three-pointers and facilitating plays, while Antonio Blakeney also contributed strongly, helping extend the lead to double digits in the second quarter.

Despite a brief comeback attempt by Botvgrad narrowing the gap to 61-53, Micić responded with excellent play to restore Hapoel's dominance, leading to a 79-60 advantage by the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter saw Hapoel cruising comfortably to victory, with Blakeney continuing to add points. This game marked the unofficial debut for several new signings, including Coffey, who impressed with his all-around performance in his first European season.

Hapoel Tel Aviv aims to build on this positive start as they continue training and integrate their roster ahead of the official season launch. Coach Itoudis expressed satisfaction with the team's performance and the promising contributions from the new players, signaling optimism for the upcoming EuroLeague campaign following a strong debut season last year.