1. The Hapoel Holon team did not hide their joy much yesterday (Thursday) after the dramatic 77:80 over Hapoel Jerusalem that ensured their promotion to the playoff finals.
The team members celebrated long minutes on the parquet in the arena together with the fans who expressed their joy in the meshed grandstand.
"There was an outburst of emotion after the victory," said captain Guy Pnini.
"A really exhausting series in all respects, physically and mentally, we won the first game here and we were sure we were going to close the story at home and they attacked us and took it hard, it's not easy to come here after that, we made a huge victory. When the atmosphere is like this. "
Alongside Joe Ragland who provided another memorable performance with 30 points, including 6 from 11 to 3, Pnini is one of the great stories of the series.
The veteran forward has not been counted in the last two games, but as many times during his career, has been pulled out in money time, perhaps also due to the injury of Freddie Bourdieu, and also at the age of 38 delivered the goods.
Although Pnini did not score a single point, the plus-minus in his minutes on the field was the highest on the team (+7) and the second of all the players on the floor (K.C. Rivers with +11).
Pnini gets the hugs at the end.
Holon with another big victory in the arena, Photo: Danny Maron
"I felt shit," Pnini admitted.
"Mostly I felt bad after the loss in the second game. After the win in the first game you go home to sleep quietly. In the second game I felt the team was out of step, but I still respect the coach's decision."
After the game Goodes told Penny that he was sure that the fact that he had not let him play in the previous two games made him go up to the floor in a frenzy.
"I've known Guy for many years and know how much he takes things personally," the coach said, laughing. .
Guy Goodes.
Facing the final, Photo: Danny Maron
In Holon, they are already looking at the final series that will begin on Monday.
"We love that we're coming to the series as a kind of underdog, it's good for us. We'll come insanely," the team said.
Pnini said: "" We are going to play perhaps against the best team in the country in the current form, we have seen them give a show in a lamp, we will come modest, and we will look them in the eye.
The loss in the semi-finals of the State Cup sits well in our heads. "
The first game in the final series will take place in the Jubilee Hall despite attempts to move it to Menora Mivtachim Hall as it is a small hall that does not accommodate the amount of fans you would like to get to the game and the infrastructure in it is insufficient.
"I love Bnei Herzliya and they should play at home and not move anywhere, because the hall is not their problem but a problem of our sport. It is time for the sport here to progress and every team that plays in the Premier League will have a proper hall," Pnini concluded emphatically.
Will Holon do what it did in Jerusalem at the Jubilee ?, Photo: Danny Maron
4. Steve Zack, who injured his ankle the day before the start of the series against Jerusalem, is recovering well and the team will check over the weekend if he will be fit.
Holon needs as thick a front line as possible to deal with Herzliya's high battery, especially against Chinano Onoako.
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