Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball Coach Vows to Avoid Red Star's Traps

Following an opening EuroLeague loss to Bayern Munich, Hapoel Tel Aviv is set to face Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) Belgrade on Tuesday, aiming for their first European victory of the 2026/27 season. Coach Dimitris Itoudis expressed confidence in his team's preparation, stating, "The preparations are excellent. We analyzed our two games and know it will be a very demanding match." He acknowledged Red Star's strengthened roster, playoff aspirations, and strong home-court advantage, fueled by their passionate fans. However, Itoudis asserted, "We have the players and the people to control the atmosphere and not fall into their traps."

Guard Vasilije Micić, returning to his hometown of Belgrade, shared his positive feelings about the upcoming game. "We feel good, we are ready. We watched many games of Red Star and hope we will respond well," he said. Micić emphasized the need for consistent focus throughout the game, noting that "there were many ups and downs in the previous game, but at this level, you cannot afford so many inefficient minutes." He added that playing in his home city always feels good, making him feel at home in the arena.