Mixed feelings at Hapoel Jerusalem after the 76:83 victory yesterday (Wednesday) over the Polish Stal Ostrov.
The Reds failed to erase the gap they lost in the first round in Poland and they will have to win at least one of their two remaining away games against Krasziaka and Marsa in order not to be relegated.
In the next round, on December 6, Jerusalem will host Karsiyaka in Izmir, with a victory of three points or more likely to lift it above the Turks in the table.
"We played against a great team and we managed to win, not by the difference we wanted, but it's an important victory," said Yotam Halperin, who has maintained one hundred percent success since being appointed team coach.
Yotam Halperin.
Impressive makeover of his team, Photo: Bernie Ardov
Halperin did not like what he saw in the first half and in the locker room shook the players who responded well and in the second half turned the situation in the game in their favor on the way to victory.
"In the first half we were not good in many exams, we were not aggressive, we did not take rebounds, we lost the ball and we did not play well. We talked about it in the locker room and the players came in a completely different way and we managed to win a great team."
Forward Willy Workman who was one responsible for the change in the second half with great defense, high energies and also excellent percentages from the field, added: "We had a good second half after a hard first half, a lot of energy. We played great basketball, but we managed to get the win and that's what big teams do. Our goal is not only to cover our flaws, but to make those flaws strengths. There are a lot of issues we have to cover with a lot of enthusiasm, but it's something that sometimes needs to be done. ".
2. The one who received special compliments is Itai Segev.
The chin who fought almost alone under the baskets following Thon Maker's anemia and the fact that Anthony Bennett likes to play mostly out of color, finished with 10 rebounds, 5 of them on offense.
Retin Obasohan flies, tonight, Photo: Berni Ardov,
"With me doing exactly what he needs to do for the best," Halperin said.
"Itai is not the most talented player in the State of Israel, but he is the player who wants the most and that is obvious, he is a great guard and gives us a lot of energy. He will just continue like this."
At the end of the game, Retin Obasuhan - one of the team's leaders - organized the rest of the players and they went out for a joint meal at one of the restaurants in the city, a testament to the good mood that has been forming over the past two weeks.