Clinching second place in Group A felt great for Hapoel's coach and his players.
After 'impressive achievement', Hapoel wants to 'go all the way'
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 18 of 18
Group A
l
l
l
w
l
w
w
l
l
l
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv finished the regular season in style, defeating Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul 73-94 on Wednesday night in a game played at Stozice Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia. With the win, Hapoel secured second place in Group A, meaning it earned a direct place in the quarterfinals, where it will host the winner of the eighthfinals duel between defending champion Dreamland Gran Canaria and Besiktas.
That achievement moved Hapoel head coach Danny Franco: "We can talk about X's and O's, but this season for us is not just about that", he said.
"We are always judged by wins and losses but I am proud of the guys, and management. It is a special group we created, it brought us to an amazing achievement for us."
When it came to beating Besiktas, Hapoel did it behind a sold defense, which allowed 20 points in the first 5 minutes and then in the next 28 minutes, it allowed just 29 points.
"Everything that happened on the floor we were reacting a second too late", coach Franco explained those first 5 minutes of the game.
But after he called a timeout, his team responded, holding Besiktas to just 3 points the rest of the first quarter.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/fJimhj7rm1U/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Dreamland Gran Canaria-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Finals Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e00cb09-1dcf-4fb0-9df7-f311aaa5d5eb.jpg?crop=1228%3A690%3Anowe%3A16%3A52]()
Bingham with the poster dunk! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/55Uq4OOk8RA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Dreamland Gran Canaria | Finals Game 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/08/tDVYPnVgiKdVSZAjMlJbL9gW97vjRJcL-1744140917804.jpg]()
Blakeney puts Conditt on a poster! Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:15
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/08/xNR1wQ6KkGJwdPX0g7e0ypGze7cvV1Rg-1744139915336.jpg]()
Johnathan Motley: 'If we keep playing defense like this, we are gonna be hard to beat'
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/008590b6-fbb1-4704-b924-1b7d89c8dfce.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A102%3A149]()
What a super-block by Caboclo! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6135356d-a137-4026-83ce-ca5ecc27e046.jpg?crop=773%3A435%3Anowe%3A487%3A97]()
Motley stops Tobey on the way to the hoop! Magic Moment
- 00:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/02/EinarIScBWmqG06I5ZN9kUD4UzQKhooh-1743629548759.jpg]()
Antonio Blakeney: 'It was a hard-fought win'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/67221449-e47a-419b-b4f6-99f26f1f8081.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | SF Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:42
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/02/4gNYdtGDenXAd5suZIFlV9AMwHlrTaRR-1743629385335.jpg]()
Foster wins it! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/802a18ec-9f6d-49da-987b-057827d8cab7.jpg]()
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Valencia Basket | SF Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2c2b14c8-e531-4a36-9c51-abb1bb14a204.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A159%3A17]()
Motley rejects Montero! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/497a78aa-f9bc-4993-89c2-4eb674a9bbb7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A141%3A161]()
Foster with the show and go! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6588211-ab8b-4d66-abe1-0a06f70c204b.jpg?crop=840%3A472%3Anowe%3A258%3A17]()
Ginat fakes out Sestina and scores! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/90f4e244-a6ce-46a1-b904-12615e09cd32.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A138%3A37]()
Bingham with the rejection! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/xGRZrkWaVTg/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | SF Game 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/90f4e244-a6ce-46a1-b904-12615e09cd32.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A76]()
Hapoel's double block! Magic Moment
- 01:06
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/12/ZjhZZ5ZdrABmAvrmhnVI5MM3JIy4OdJg-1741811429440.jpg]()
Marcus Foster: 'This is what playoff basketball is about'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9z2JH1JQL9o/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Turk Telekom Ankara | Quarterfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e00cb09-1dcf-4fb0-9df7-f311aaa5d5eb.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A132%3A60]()
Ragland to Bingham alley-oop! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/995b58cf-50a0-462d-a000-9e6abde037e2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A134%3A33]()
Motley’s big dunk! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/65290f13-574b-4d2f-a94d-85e9810e1bda.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Besiktas Fibabank Istabul | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a78b4bef-79cc-4c50-b89a-02227b042660.jpg?crop=1278%3A719%3Anowe%3A36%3A35]()
Plavsic at it again! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7ad38cdb-398b-4160-a9c2-d90fb6d805f0.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A136%3A6]()
Plavsic violates the rim! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e711822-cc46-4732-867e-4ad0c6a9ed87.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A110%3A25]()
What a dunk from Sleva! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2af757b7-c254-4be2-b35a-66df03863302.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A77%3A27]()
Allman gets airborne! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3491d84f-a9a0-475a-89d5-b89f85cdaeab.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A116%3A62]()
Plavsic with a superb dunk! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/66pr3Vsbz3k/maxresdefault.jpg]()
ratiopharm Ulm-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/zNU9guWExW4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul-Dolomiti Energia Trento | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/497a78aa-f9bc-4993-89c2-4eb674a9bbb7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A138%3A175]()
Foster finishes the thrilling alley-oop! Magic Moment
- 00:07
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/946d9695-9d29-461a-8d42-2ea669d5752e.jpg?crop=683%3A383%3Anowe%3A295%3A151]()
Mawugbe rocks the rim! Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2af757b7-c254-4be2-b35a-66df03863302.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A68%3A26]()
Allman dunks on the fly! Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a569c022-a15f-4c87-a2a6-79e21f334ae2.jpg?crop=1344%3A756%3Anowe%3A3%3A37]()
Bayehe on the alley oop! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef2e2512-09d3-41b8-ad92-3748438545b4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A81%3A33]()
Terry bends the rim! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/1VxUBOeMcM0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Dreamland Gran Canaria-Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6de22b18-14b3-4efc-8686-5e288393a8c1.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A179%3A113]()
Needham finds Plavsic on his back! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/WoESK0IjyHg/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Trefl Sopot | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7401cbfb-eca8-420e-8c93-0b0c539202c2.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A109]()
Caboclo says no to Zyskowski! Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/497a78aa-f9bc-4993-89c2-4eb674a9bbb7.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A202]()
Foster find his way to destroy the rim! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/jUA3r7W-e0k/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/aXny-NciO2M/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul-Trefl Sopot | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a78b4bef-79cc-4c50-b89a-02227b042660.jpg?crop=1276%3A718%3Anowe%3A37%3A36]()
Uros Plavsic powers the alley-oop! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e338d9a8-42e8-43d2-8f3d-22e59546d3ec.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A74%3A57]()
Motley to Foster! Magic Moment
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3491d84f-a9a0-475a-89d5-b89f85cdaeab.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A147%3A33]()
Plavsic with great vision! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/KgBEvMugRfI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/74bc6b8f-a641-4aa8-ba4f-344c80cc76d8.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A144%3A91]()
Wainright saves the day with rejection! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/409rd09jng8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul-Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 01:09
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/09/LwQbBO2trH0NyK7gvYoqmn8vW6PyW2yD-1736458005073.jpg]()
Sertac Sanli: 'Everybody needed a game like this'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/G0I6TLBWYbM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/23bff996-5b5a-4431-a27d-e15260f1aaa3.jpg?crop=1191%3A670%3Anowe%3A103%3A32]()
Wetzell dunks off a smooth ALBA play! Motorola Magic Moment
Meanwhile, throughout the night on offense, different Hapoel players stepped up at different junctures of the game, like a relay-race where they passed a scoring baton to each other.
First it was Tomer Ginat and Will Cummings who scored Hapoel's first 18 points, 9 each to open the game. Then, Dez Wells, Bar Timor and Idan Zalmanson chipped in with a couple baskets apiece, helping Hapoel grab the lead for good in the second quarter.
Late in the second quarter, Jaylen Hoard, Kyle Alexander, Braian Angola and J'Cowan Brown, all scoreless to that point, combined to score 11 points and build a 39-47 halftime margin.
After the break, Brown was joined by Xavier Munford to open a 39-55 lead, and the team cruised to victory the rest of the way.
When all was said and done, Hapoel held Besiktas to just 39.5% shooting on two-pointers and 5-of-18 on threes.
"We played a very good defense," said Ginat. "It is a very good job by us a very important win."
Ginat finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds in 24 minutes on the floor and had a message that will surely be heard: "After all we've been through this season, with the situation in Israel, with all the injuries, with everything, finishing second in the group is very impressive.
"We have a very good group of guys, first of all of the court. And I think with the roster we have right now we can go all the way, and I have no doubt we are going to do it."
In about five weeks, Ginat and his teammates will begin a new journey, through the EuroCup Playoffs, with a chance to act on this proclamation.
