Hapoel Tel Aviv Secures First EuroLeague Win, Overcoming Red Star Belgrade

Hapoel Tel Aviv celebrated their first victory in the EuroLeague basketball competition this season, defeating KK Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) 81-80 on the road. This win came after a disappointing loss to Bayern Munich in the opening round.

The Israeli team led for most of the game, fending off a late comeback attempt by the Serbian hosts to secure the crucial win. "It was a victory of character," stated head coach Dimitris Itoudis after the game. "It was very important for us to recover after the loss in the first game. We played against a very high-quality opponent in their home, in front of their crowd, and we met that challenge."

Guard Elijah Bryant received significant praise for his performance, bouncing back after a controversial incident during the Super Cup where he was seen in the stands during a derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv despite claiming to be unwell. Bryant, who had struggled in the first EuroLeague game, led the team with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, demonstrating his importance as the team's leader.

Antonio Blakeney, who contributed 12 points, echoed the sentiment of a hard-fought win. "It's good to get our first EuroLeague win," Blakeney said. "Obviously, playing against Red Star in front of their fans is always tough, so for us to get this win here means a lot for our team. It felt really good. The fact that we could ultimately silence the crowd and win the game is a good feeling."

Despite a slow start, veteran guard Vasilije Micić proved decisive in the final two minutes, hitting two crucial three-pointers to seal the victory. Micić finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Hapoel Tel Aviv's next EuroLeague fixture is against Real Madrid on Thursday in Sofia, Bulgaria, a rematch of last season's playoff quarter-finals. The team aims to avenge that series loss and achieve a winning record.