Hapoel Jerusalem Secures Perfect EuroCup Regular Season, Eyes Home Court Advantage
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Hapoel Jerusalem finished the first round of the EuroCup with a perfect 7-0 record after defeating Darussafaka 91-77. The team is well-positioned to secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs due to the tournament's new best-of-three format. A previous 11-point win over Aris Thessaloniki could be vital for tie-breaking scenarios.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Jerusalem finished the EuroCup first round with a perfect 7-0 record.
- The team defeated Darussafaka 91-77 to secure their perfect record.
- A new EuroCup format guarantees home-court advantage for higher-ranked teams.
- Jerusalem's 11-point win over Aris Thessaloniki is significant for tie-breaking.
- All teams advance to the Round of 16 in the new tournament structure.
Hapoel Jerusalem concluded the first round of the EuroCup basketball tournament with a perfect 7-0 record after defeating Darussafaka 91-77 on Wednesday. This dominant performance positions the team favorably for the upcoming stages of the competition.
The EuroCup's revised format features four groups of eight teams, aiming to shorten the regular season. Jerusalem is in a strong position to finish first in its group, especially after a previous victory over Aris Thessaloniki. As they are in Group A, they could face teams from Group B, potentially including Umana Reyer Venezia, a candidate for a permanent EuroLeague license, in the next round.
Unlike previous years, all teams will advance to the Round of 16. All playoff series, from the Round of 16 through the finals, will be a best-of-three format. The team that finishes with a better regular season record will secure home-court advantage in each series. Therefore, finishing first in their group guarantees Hapoel Jerusalem home-court advantage in at least the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Finishing first could also help Jerusalem avoid facing strong opponents like Bahçeşehir Koleji, PAOK Thessaloniki, Tofaş Bursa, or Napoli, who are top seeds in Groups C and D, in the semifinals. Jerusalem's 11-point victory over Aris Thessaloniki could be crucial in case of a tie in standings, as a loss by fewer than 11 points to Aris would still secure Jerusalem first place if they finish with the same record.
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