Galil Elyon Coach Seeks Center Reinforcement After Comeback Win

Hapoel Galil Elyon secured a spot in the Winner League Cup quarterfinals with an 83-61 victory over Hapoel Emek on Saturday, finishing atop Group A. Despite trailing by 16 points in the second quarter, the team, coached by Idan Avshalom, mounted a significant comeback with a 21-2 run in the third quarter and never looked back. Nate King scored 18 points, Maurice Kemp added 16, and Ariel Sela and Rani Bliga contributed 8 points each.

Galil Elyon, now 2-0 in the group stage, will have a break before facing Ironi Ness Ziona on September 28th in a direct match for a semifinal berth. During a timeout when his team was down by 16, Avshalom encouraged his players, "Don't get excited, we'll be down by 16 and up by 16 many times this year. Fight, enjoy, and play." His players responded, executing a remarkable turnaround with the support of the home crowd.

Maurice Kemp expressed satisfaction with the team's defensive principles and the coaching staff's preparation. He described himself as the "father of the group" among the young players, aged 20-21, and stated his desire to lead the team, having chosen Galil for the challenge and to test his leadership abilities.

Avshalom acknowledged the team is new but praised their reaction and resilience after not landing the "first punch." He was pleased with the second half performance, noting there is "a long way to go." He also revealed the team is actively seeking a center to strengthen the squad, stating, "We are looking for a player at the five position to strengthen the team."