Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Itoudis Faces Former Mentor Obradovic
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dimitris Itoudis faces his former mentor Zeljko Obradovic and an undefeated Panathinaikos team in a tough EuroLeague game. Itoudis described Panathinaikos as "built to go all the way" and stressed the need for his team to be at their best. Forward Zach LeDay echoed the sentiment, calling for 40 minutes of intense focus. Obradovic, however, downplayed the personal rivalry, stating the game is between the two teams.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dimitris Itoudis faces Panathinaikos, coached by his former mentor Zeljko Obradovic.
- Itoudis stated Panathinaikos is "a team that was built to go all the way."
- Hapoel Tel Aviv is coming off wins against Besiktas and in the Israeli league.
- Forward Zach LeDay emphasized the need for 40 minutes of complete focus.
- Obradovic stated the game is Panathinaikos versus Hapoel, not a personal contest.
Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dimitris Itoudis spoke ahead of his team's challenging EuroLeague matchup against undefeated Panathinaikos in Greece. Itoudis, who previously worked under Panathinaikos coach Zeljko Obradovic for many years, acknowledged the strength of his upcoming opponent, stating, "We will meet a team that was built to go all the way." He emphasized the need to counter Panathinaikos's aggression on both ends of the court, manage their physicality, control the game's tempo, secure good shots, and win the rebounding battle.
Forward Zach LeDay also addressed the team's mindset, noting their positive response to recent losses with wins in the Israeli league and against Besiktas in the EuroLeague. LeDay stressed the importance of complete focus for the entire 40 minutes against a top-tier opponent, stating, "We will need to be focused for all 40 minutes and give our best."
Obradovic, when asked about his relationship with Itoudis, downplayed the personal aspect of the game. "The game is not Obradovic versus Itoudis. The game is Panathinaikos versus Hapoel," he clarified. He described Itoudis as "my brother" and confirmed they would meet, but reiterated that the focus should be on the teams' competition.
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