Hapoel Tel Aviv Player German Confident in Leadership Ability

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured their first local league win of the season against Hapoel Be'er Sheva/Dimona on Sunday evening. Player Eugene German, who led the team with 20 points, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "We came and played strong as a team, we were very physical. We executed on both ends, I feel good and that I am in a good place." He added that he believes he can lead the team anywhere as long as they believe in him. German also commented on his EuroLeague playing time, saying he remains ready whenever the coach calls upon him and that he is enjoying his time in Israel, Tel Aviv, and Sofia.

Coach Itoudis acknowledged the team's strong start and aggressive play but expressed dissatisfaction with a significant lead that diminished in the third quarter. "We had a 14-point lead in the third quarter, I made substitutions and it dropped to 2 at the end of the quarter. This run? It is unacceptable, we need to work on it," he stated. Itoudis praised German's contributions beyond scoring, highlighting his ability to create opportunities for teammates. He also noted the team's 21 assists to 9 turnovers and points scored after forcing turnovers as positive indicators.

Itoudis reflected on the team's EuroLeague success, noting their playoff appearance last year, which earned them a spot this season. He expressed pride in Hapoel Tel Aviv's growing status and the challenges that come with it. Regarding the return of EuroLeague games to Israel, he voiced satisfaction with the efforts and meetings taking place, praying for continued peace and the swift return of games. He emphasized the need for joint efforts to host games in Tel Aviv, asserting that the club demonstrates it is safe to play there.