Hapoel Tel Aviv Climbs EuroLeague Standings After Dominant Second Half

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a convincing 100-82 victory over Besiktas in their fifth EuroLeague game, improving their record to 3-2 and moving closer to the top of the standings. The team, which had a less impressive first half, found its rhythm in the second, largely due to the strong performance of its offensive trio: Zach LeDay, Elijah Bryant, and Antonio Blakeney. This unit propelled Hapoel to a decisive 32-16 run in the final quarter, sealing the win.

Coaching staff praised the players' defensive effort, noting their success in containing Besiktas's three-point shooting, a key offensive weapon for the Turkish team earlier in the season. "We kept to the principles of the game plan after several games where the game plan was not executed in the best way," one team official explained.

Elijah Bryant, who finished with 16 points, acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in ball handling, but expressed optimism about the team's learning process. "At the end of the day, it's all about learning from it, whether good or bad," he stated. Antonio Blakeney, adding 15 points, highlighted the tough defense from Besiktas and the importance of executing their own offensive plays. "It's early in the season so we are still learning each other and finding our rhythm," Blakeney commented.

Hapoel Tel Aviv is set to travel to Athens to face Panathinaikos, aiming to continue their winning momentum and maintain their positive record. Despite acknowledging Panathinaikos as a strong defensive team, Hapoel expects to compete and potentially win. Bar Timor may join the team in Athens but is unlikely to play. Ten players participated in the game, with Bruno Caboclo playing one minute, while Jacob Toppin and Eugene German were dressed but did not play.