Hapoel Tel Aviv Celebrates Major EuroLeague Victory Over Real Madrid

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a significant 102-98 victory against Real Madrid in their second EuroLeague game of a demanding double-week, bouncing back from an earlier loss to Bayern Munich. The win, described by team sources as "huge" and a demonstration of their true capabilities, lifted spirits after a period of pressure and previous disappointments.

The team started strong, building a nine-point lead by the end of the first quarter and extending it to 20 points by halftime, with standout performances from Bruno Caboclo, Elijah Bryant, and Zach LeDay. However, Real Madrid mounted a significant comeback in the second half, led by Theo Maledon and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, even taking a one-point lead late in the third quarter.

Hapoel, spearheaded by Elijah Bryant, managed to regain control, stopping Real's run and holding on for the win. Bryant finished with an impressive 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, emphasizing the importance of learning from losses. Vasa Micić also contributed 22 points, and Zach LeDay added 15.

A major story of the game was the unexpected performance of Bruno Caboclo, who started for the first time in the EuroLeague this season and scored 15 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting from three-point range. Caboclo expressed his readiness, crediting his consistent training and the team's focus.

Following the victory, Hapoel Tel Aviv will return to Israel for the Winner Cup semifinals against Bnei Herzliya on Saturday. Some key players, including Micić and Bryant, may be rested for this domestic cup game. The team is also scheduled to hold a memorial event for those who fell on October 7th.