The EuroLeague newcomer is now 4-1 on the season, level with Panathinaikos for the best record in the league
Hapoel proves the value of roster depth in nail-biting win over Paris
Report partita
3 Minuto di lettura
Regular Season
Round 5 of 38
Regular Season
Paris BasketballPBB
8889
Hapoel IBI Tel AvivHTA
Overview
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“We need each other. We need each other!”
That was the passionate message from Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv head coach Dimitris Itoudis after his team pulled out a clutch 88-89 win over Paris Basketball, a victory he attributed to team spirit and the roster's readiness.
The visitors survived an incredibly fast-paced, back-and-forth battle at Adidas Arena, sealing the W in the closing seconds. The win moves Hapoel to 4–1 on the season.
Facing off for the first time since January 2024, both teams played at a blistering pace from the opening tip. Momentum swung constantly, but when Tyler Ennis hit two clutch free throws and Elijah Bryant came down with a key rebound, the game was decided.
Itoudis put full trust in his roster, with all but two listed players seeing at least 14 minutes of action. His faith paid off as five players reached double figures in scoring, spearheaded by center Dan Oturu, who impressed with 18 points, 9 boards and 2 blocks.
Former Paris player Collin Malcolm and Tomer Ginat drained crucial triples, Antonio Blakeney packed a punch, while Vasilije Micic set the pace for the road team early on. Itoudis was quick to praise how his bench stepped up and starters sacrificed.
“I would like to congratulate my team,” he said. “We proved that we have a deep roster. The game could have gone either way, but we kept believing in what we were doing. We had to dig, dig, dig deep into the bench. Tyler did a great job, AB did a great job – everybody who came in helped the starters. That is how we build character. Togetherness!”
Hapoel’s team-first mentality was evident throughout. The Israeli team totalled 20 assists through the contest and it played committed, swarming defense, limiting EuroLeague scoring leader Nadir Hifi for much of the night. Another solid contributor for the victors was Johnathan Motley, who logged 11 points and hustled hard. The center also recognized the strength in depth and importance of personal sacrifice.
“They have a great team – they play hard and play together – so we had to match that intensity,” said Motley. “We've got a lot of players, so we have to sacrifice, help each other and be good when our name is called, I think we’re doing a good job.”
It was a tough loss for Paris, which had taken the lead in the final minute. Hifi exploded in crunch time, and Momo Faye made key plays on both ends to keep the hosts in it.
Head coach Francesco Tabellini trusts that his team can regroup, despite the gut-wrenching loss.
“For sure, we could have done something different, but we’ll watch the game and try to get better,” Tabellini said. “The game changed when Collin Malcolm made those two threes, and in that moment we missed a couple of good looks. That’s basketball – sometimes it hurts, and we’ll deal with the pain.”
Marching on as one unit, Hapoel has closed out a successful two-game week and will look to move to 5-1 when it faces AS Monaco next Thursday.
Paris, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back next week when it takes on Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.
