Hapoel Holon Basketball Team Celebrates First Win, Seeks New Guard

Hapoel Holon secured their first official victory of the season, defeating Maccabi Ramat Gan 83-80 in a dramatic Winner Cup game on Wednesday. The team, coached by Predrag Krunić, overcame a poor start and a 16-6 deficit to win in the closing moments, ending a two-game losing streak in the tournament. Club officials acknowledged the team's slow start, attributing it to early-season form and a lack of energy and atmosphere, but expressed satisfaction with the eventual comeback.

Guard Claude'l Harris Jr. was instrumental in the win, scoring 24 points and dishing out 6 assists, earning praise from the club. "Claude'l gives a lot to the team and has much more to give," a club source stated. "He plays with confidence, is present on the court, and you can completely rely on him to do the job. He is a very team-oriented player." Center Adama Sanogo contributed a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

The team is awaiting an assessment of Sam Iorio's condition after he suffered a hip/groin injury in the third quarter and left the game for treatment. He is scheduled for imaging on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury, with the club hoping it is not significant.

In parallel, Holon is actively seeking an additional foreign guard to bolster their roster. This search is prompted by Drew Thwell's ongoing recovery from a hamstring tear and the anticipated arrival of Israeli-American guard Skylar Weeks in the coming days.