Hapoel Tel Aviv Player Jacob Toppin Expects Israeli Passport Soon

Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball player Jacob Toppin expressed his belief that he will soon receive his Israeli passport. The team has been undergoing a lengthy process for his citizenship.

The team traveled to Cyprus on Wednesday for their upcoming EuroLeague derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for Thursday. Hapoel is looking for retribution after a recent painful loss to their city rivals in the Winner Cup final.

Player Tai Odiase acknowledged the sting of the recent derby loss, stating, "It still hurts us a bit." He added that the team has reviewed game footage and needs to focus on the upcoming match, noting that Maccabi's strategy is unlikely to change significantly. Odiase also discussed defensive strategies for guarding opposing player Daniel Theis, emphasizing the need to limit his open shots and execute proper box-outs.

Toppin described the derby as "everything" to him and expressed his desire for the team to win every game. Reflecting on the previous loss to Maccabi, he noted that the team had a great practice and feels prepared. Toppin identified turnovers as a key area for improvement, stating, "Our game with the ball, we had a lot of turnovers against them and that led to a lot of their points. We need to not lose balls and it will be okay."