Nes Ziona Defeats Hapoel Holon to Reach Winner's Cup Quarterfinals

Nes Ziona secured a spot in the Winner's Cup quarterfinals with a hard-fought 77-72 victory over Hapoel Holon on Thursday. The win improved Nes Ziona's record to 2-0 in the tournament, guaranteeing their advancement.

The game was a dramatic affair, with Nes Ziona nearly squandering a double-digit lead, similar to their previous match. However, the team, coached by Paul Corsaro, demonstrated resilience and composure in the closing minutes to clinch the win.

Nes Ziona established an early advantage, ending the first quarter with a 24-13 lead and extending it further in the first half. Hapoel Holon managed to narrow the deficit before halftime and staged a significant comeback in the third quarter, outscoring Nes Ziona 26-14 to take a two-point lead entering the final period. Key players for Holon during this run included Adama Sanogo, Brandon Jones, Claudel Harris, and Reblado Soares.

In the decisive final quarter, Nes Ziona proved more accurate. Paris Lee led the team with 16 points, supported by crucial contributions from Vincent Amsellem (10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals), Spencer Weiss, Bryce Brown, and Justin James, who each added 11 points. Freddy Gillespie also scored 4 important points despite early foul trouble.

With this victory, Nes Ziona advances to the quarterfinals. Hapoel Holon will now face Kiryat Ata next Tuesday in a match that will determine which team secures the second qualifying spot from their group.