On
paper there are three teams that have reached the semi-finals of the State Cup naturally.
Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Holon and Hapoel Tel Aviv are what we call big clubs.
The place of the people of Herzliya among the last four seems less natural.
But - it's on paper only.
The group from the Sharon is rightly there.
What a season for a team that survived last season from relegation: second place in the league, seven wins in its last eight games in all competitions, first in a league that has reached ten wins, and as mentioned - a place in the Cup semi-finals.
Herzliya will not only be a guest in the honorable class, it is very worthwhile to have her counted.
It is not clear who is the favorite in its semifinal against Hapoel Holon.
Bab.
Real wear and tear, Photo: Udi Citation
There are a lot of good things in Herzliya this season, but above all it has two players who are big winners in the lottery.
She managed to bring in two players who are at a level above a club with a small name and financial capabilities, such as Herzliya's.
The casting of Chris Bab and Chinano Onoako into the club is a great abrasion, a real flash.
With these two Herzliya can dream of a big season in historical dimensions for this club.
2. The
semi-final of the State Cup is a snapshot of 5-2 places in the league.
In other words: almost all the top there, and not the leading Hapoel Jerusalem.
If Jerusalem continues to look like in its last games, the first place in the league is also in danger.
Within nine days it lost a place in two factories - the Champions League and the National Cup.
Jerusalem looks like a team that has learned its trick.
This trick is called the pair of guards: Obasohan - Adams.
The season has dynamics, and Jerusalem, which won the drive-in in the league at the beginning of the season, lost there in the quarterfinals of the Hapoel Tel Aviv Cup.
The answer is simple - currently the Reds from Tel Aviv are better than those from Jerusalem.
Obasohan.
The rivals learned, Photo: Oded Karni
Hapoel Tel Aviv has not remembered such momentum for a long time: six consecutive victories - two of them over Maccabi Tel Aviv, one over Jerusalem.
It was built on a very upgraded defense, on Jacob Brown's improved ability after difficulties at the start of the season.
James Young who is currently unstoppable, JP Tokoto doing everything on the field and Idan Zalmanson in a big season.
I want to turn the spotlight on another reason for the flourishing of the Tel Aviv team: Coach Danny Franco knew how to make moves to expand his roster and now he has a deep roster.
This wide staff means that each player can invest more in defense.
How did the coach do it?
By the great credit to Lotan Amsalem, the push of Gil Benny who became a five-man player, the bringing in of Igor Kolshov from Maccabi Rishon LeZion, and Franco also takes care of the minutes for Raz Adam.
Gil Benny and Franco's gang.
There is depth, Photo: Oded Karni
3.
Maccabi Tel Aviv reached the Cup semifinals yesterday after two games in one game.
Who is Maccabi Tel Aviv?
The one that absorbed 54 points in the first half against Upper Galilee in Kfar Blum or the one that absorbed 7 points in the next 15 minutes?
The one that went down in double digits by half, or the one that won in double digits at the end?
Maccabi's big profit from this game: Yiftach Ziv and Roman Sorkin.
The coordinator has recently revealed the first signs of absorption at the yellow club.
The other started the season well, was injured and later received little credit.
Sorkin deserves renewed credit in the Euroleague as well.
Yiftach Ziv.
Signs of integration, Photo: Oded Karni
Galil is back in good form this season for the Premier League, but its barrier is the big ones.
In each of the games against the big names of the league she plays well, but only in part of the game.
Yesterday it was one half.
In the league game against Maccabi, it fell in overtime.
Against Jerusalem and Holon she knew how to lead and lose in the end.
When will she break this barrier?
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
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