Hapoel Holon Basketball Team Faces European Opener with Key Absences and Returns

Hapoel Holon has traveled to Samokov, Bulgaria, to begin their European season in the BCL (Basketball Champions League) with a home game against French team Cholet. Guard Brandon Jones will miss the game after spraining his ankle during practice. He joins forward Greg Lee, who was diagnosed with a torn collateral ligament after an incident in a previous game. However, the team will see the return of Rivaldo Soares and Sam Ayre, who were sidelined with muscle strains and sensitivities in their last game. Point guard Leicester Medford is set to make his debut for Holon. Meanwhile, Skylar Weeks' debut is postponed as he requires further medical evaluation to complete his physicals, preventing his registration for games. The club is also pursuing citizenship for Weeks to register him as a new naturalized player for the local league. Coach Predrag Krunic expressed anticipation for the BCL season, emphasizing the need for his team to be prepared for a physical game against a talented and athletic Cholet squad, focusing on aggressive play, rebounding, and consistency on both ends of the court.