Hapoel Tel Aviv Wins Season Opener in Bulgarian Preseason Match

Hapoel Tel Aviv began its preparations for the upcoming basketball season with a strong 101-76 victory over Bulgarian EuroCup team Balkan Botevgrad on Saturday night. The team, which recently announced a change in ownership structure and boasts six new signings along with an increased budget, played without injured captain Tomer Ginat and other Israeli national team players. Despite the absences, Hapoel quickly took control after an early Bulgarian lead, with new teammate Zach Laidey joining Antonio Blakeney to secure a 30-26 lead by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Hapoel's defense limited the Bulgarians to just 12 points while scoring 20 themselves, extending their lead to 50-38. The third quarter saw the Israeli side push the advantage to 19 points, and although Balkan Botevgrad narrowed the gap to single digits briefly, Hapoel maintained dominance to close the quarter at 79-60. The game concluded with a decisive 101-76 win for Hapoel Tel Aviv. Coach Itudis and his players started their preseason campaign on a positive note, signaling strong prospects for the season ahead.