Hapoel Jerusalem pleased with "renewed rivalry, as long as you do not slip past the track", Ketch: "It was a great honor to coach him" • Mac's ability in 76:98 on Ortz: "It was worth waiting for such a player • Brown may rest in front Maccabi Haifa to qualify for "game of the season against Burgos"

• Thomas and Brimo. Promise a place in the playoffs

  Photo:

  Danny Maron

Hapoel Jerusalem officially completed its qualifying round of the FIFA Champions League eighth with Wednesday's 76:98 victory over Poe Ortz and now if you win one of its two remaining games it will secure first place in the second and home advantage in all stages of the knockout Up to the Final Four.

Apart from the important victory, the team is very pleased with the smooth integration of new acquisition player Shalvin Mack, who has been in Israel for barely a week and already won the quintet and led the list with 22 points. "We were waiting for a player like him to expand the rotation and give us diversity and depth," the group said. "He comes with a lot of experience and sees that he understands the game well. He doesn't force anything and flows with the flux of the attack. It was worth the wait for such a player."

Coach Oded Ketch said that after Mack's signing, the number of minutes of the other guards would be reduced: "The players understand and are happy for any help to make the team win. The average may be down, but our intensity will rise. That's how big teams who want to succeed do. Will remember if a player played five minutes less on average. "

Mac. Worth the wait // Photo: Danny Maron

A player who seems to have been here for a long time and in fact has not yet completed a month in Israel, is John Holland, who also shone with 18 points in front of the French team. "We did a great job, especially in the second half with a lot of intensity and aggressiveness and we built the advantage," he said at the press conference. "They beat us in the previous round so we concentrated on our work and made a good win. All my teammates and coaches help everyone join in and be effective and they deserve the credit too, not just me or Shalvin Mack. Everyone has a part of it because everyone gives us the confidence to play in that way And be significant from the beginning. "

And it is impossible without reference to the ex Amara Stodmayer's transition to the great rival Maccabi Tel Aviv which was the day's talk in Arena before, during and after the game. The Jerusalemites are preparing for a "fiery" welcome to the AX and believe the arena will be filled with a match between the teams in early March. "There is something good about this rivalry that turns everyone on," Barna said yesterday, "of course as long as it doesn't go too far."

Jerusalem fans waving a sign against Amara // Photo: Danny Maron

Ketch himself addressed the issue: "At the beginning of the summer we wanted Amara and had other plans, and now things were different and what happened. I can say that it was an experience to coach him, it's great fun and an honor to coach such a player and I wish him good luck wherever he went. "Everybody's season goes from team to team, it's clear to me that Amara is a little more special, but it's not the first time that this happens."

On another matter, Jacob Brown came into the game carrying a minor injury in his leg and may also get some rest in the upcoming league game against Maccabi Haifa to be ready for next week's game against Burgos which he calls the team "our most important of the season."