Kiriat Ata Completes Dramatic Comeback to Reach Winner Cup Quarterfinals

Ironi Kiriat Ata secured the final spot in the Winner Cup basketball tournament quarterfinals after a thrilling 99-98 overtime victory against Hapoel HaEmek in the second play-in game. The team, coached by Eldad Bentov, trailed by as many as 30 points in the first quarter but mounted a significant comeback to win the match.

Kiriat Ata will now face defending champions Maccabi Tel Aviv in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Key performers in the comeback win included Daniel Sharon, who scored 22 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, Holland Woods with 21 points, and Tomer Assaig with 20 points.

Coach Bentov expressed immense satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting their resilient mentality. "We can come back from any deficit. That's the mentality. With the pace we play, anything is possible," he stated. He also praised Daniel Sharon's character and performance, noting his potential and minimal errors. Bentov also mentioned the promising debut of a player named Chuli Troshkin, who transitioned from the youth league to the senior team, demonstrating he belongs at the top level.

Looking ahead, Bentov discussed the addition of Tyris Radford, expected to bring speed, creativity, shooting, and offensive firepower to the team. Additionally, Jordan Cohen has returned to full training after an injury and is anticipated to play in the next game, marking his first appearance since his injury.