Hapoel Tel Aviv Admits Tough Lesson After Narrow EuroCup Victory

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a spot in the Cagliari Tournament final by defeating Italy's Virtus Roma 80-78 in a EuroCup game. Despite an early double-digit lead, Hapoel Tel Aviv struggled defensively and offensively in the latter parts of the game, allowing Roma to mount a comeback. The team managed to hold on for the win thanks to strong composure in the closing moments.

Coach Giannis Sfairopoulos acknowledged the victory but expressed concern over the team's performance, particularly in the second half. "We had quite a few problems, especially on defense but also on offense," he stated. "We won the game thanks to a great 10:21 start, but we lost the next three quarters, and that's something that should worry us." He noted the team's 10-rebound advantage indicated significant effort, but they failed to match Roma's physicality.

Sfairopoulos mentioned that Vasilije Micić, who missed the game due to illness, is questionable for the final against Bayern Munich. The coach plans to adjust the team's rotation for the final, which will feature a different lineup than the one used against Roma. He sees the game as a valuable learning experience, highlighting areas for improvement.

Player Tomas Satoransky echoed the coach's sentiments, calling the game a "good lesson" for the upcoming season. "When you don't play well, you need to understand how to stay in the game," he said. While satisfied with the win, Satoransky emphasized the need to improve before facing Bayern Munich in the final.