Hapoel Tel Aviv Wins Opener Amidst Controversy Over New Guard's Inclusion

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured an 82-95 victory over B'Sh Be'er Sheva Dimona in their league opener, a game that saw them overcome a significant deficit. After building a 14-point lead in the third quarter, the team allowed the hosts to erase it entirely by the start of the final quarter. However, Hapoel Tel Aviv, coached by Dimitris Itoudis, demonstrated resilience and quality, particularly in the fourth quarter. New point guard Eugene German was instrumental, scoring 10 of his 20 points in the decisive period and shooting 4-of-8 from three-point range, while his teammates combined for only seven three-pointers on 28 attempts. Prior to German's impactful performance, Dan Ortero led the team in scoring with a career-high 21 points for Hapoel.

The decision to register German for the game drew criticism within the team, with some believing that league rules favored a more experienced guard like Satoransky or Micić. Despite the internal debate, German's performance has generated hope for his long-term contribution. "German wants to prove himself. He understands he has a great opportunity here and cannot disappoint," a team source stated.

Notably absent from the game were Vasilije Micić, Tomas Satoransky, and Zach LeDay, who were attending a meeting with EuroLeague officials in Tel Aviv. During this meeting, Hapoel Tel Aviv players discussed their positive experiences living in Israel with the league executives. The club is optimistic about a response regarding their return to the EuroLeague within the next two weeks.