Hapoel Eilat Falls to Bnei Herzliya in Winner Cup Opener

Bnei Herzliya staged a comeback victory over Hapoel Eilat in their opening game of the Winner Cup, winning 101-98 after trailing by as many as 15 points. Eilat led for the first three quarters, but Herzliya rallied in the fourth to secure the win.

The team's foreign guard duo, Zach Bryant and D.J. Bruton, were highlighted for their effective chemistry. Bruton led all scorers with 28 points, adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists, while Bryant contributed 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. "They help each other and it seems they have managed to create good chemistry in a short time," a team source noted.

Amit Gershon also played a significant role in the comeback, scoring 16 points in 22 minutes. The team also praised D.J. Barnes for his summer weight loss efforts, stating he has the potential to be one of the league's top big men. Noah Carter added 20 points, all in the second half.

Following the game, Amit Gershon expressed satisfaction with the win but acknowledged the team's performance was not optimal. "I'm happy we won but we didn't play well today. There's a good feeling here. Slowly things will come together, the coaches are doing a good job. I feel good and I want to connect with a winning team," Gershon said.