Oded Ketch and his teammates started the second round of the FIBA ​​Champions League home round and retained first place at home

• Paladin, tonight at Arena

  Photography:

  Danny Maron

Hapoel Jerusalem opened on the right foot in the second round of the FIBA ​​Champions League home standings and retained first place at home with 72:83 on Bandirma. The Turkish team is really not the factory lion and most of its players are young and inexperienced, yet it has made it difficult and tense for Oded Ketch's players for long minutes.

This year, the Jerusalem professional team emphasized the rebound and the defense, and we didn't see any of that. Although the Turks scored less than their average (79), it was mostly because they missed free throws (9 from 26 to 3). Facing a better team with high quality and experienced players it could have ended otherwise.

Tomasz floats, tonight at Arena // Photo: Danny Maron

Already next week, Ketch and the players will face a much better rivalry when they stay with AAC Athens in a game that may prove to be critical in the battle for domesticity in the next stages.

In fact, when James Paladin is in such crazy shooting ability it is possible to forge a defense, certainly in the face of a mediocre opponent like Bandirma. The Jerusalem star scored 27 points (19 of them in the first half) and completed 68 points in just three days.

Jerusalem fans, tonight at Arne // Photo: Danny Maron

Early in the fourth quarter, as Barna was looking for another player to help Paladin to finally decide the game, Tyshon Thomas woke up with a spectacular set of moves on both sides of the field, finishing with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 27 points overall. Next week Ketch will also need more than Jacob Brown (8 points on 2 from 8 from the field, but also 10 rebounds and 8 assists) to return from Greece with a win.