Hapoel Tel Aviv Secures Third Straight Win After Halftime Rally

Hapoel Tel Aviv achieved its first three-game winning streak of the season by defeating Virtus Bologna 90-81 on Wednesday. The victory came after a stern halftime address from coach Dimitris Itoudis, who expressed dissatisfaction with the team's first-half performance, particularly on defense.

"We did things in the second half that could have been done in the first half," Itoudis stated post-game. "We don't want to look like this, it's not our DNA. Whoever isn't good, whoever doesn't give their all, won't play." The team was trailing 48-36 at halftime, with Itoudis reportedly telling his players, "The defense needs to change. I feel like nobody wants to play."

Zach LeDay was the standout player for Hapoel, contributing 22 points and 10 rebounds, continuing his recent improvement. Vasilije Micic added 16 points, and Elijah Bryant scored 12, including crucial late-game baskets. Despite a dip in scoring, the club remains confident in center Dan Ororo, who finished with eight points in limited minutes due to foul trouble. "Dan will bring us a lot more. There are periods like this too. He is still one of the most dominant centers on the continent," a club source said.

Jake Toppin also received praise from Itoudis for his significant contributions off the bench in the second half, especially on defense. "He played well. He got serious minutes and proved himself. The win was achieved, not least, thanks to him, thanks to the 'extra' he brought from the bench," the coach remarked. The team hopes this momentum will carry forward.