The expectations surrounding Hapoel Tel Aviv are high this year and last night (Friday) Danny Franco's players proved once again why this is the case when they continued the wonderful momentum from the Winner Cup and beat Hapoel Eilat 59:98 in the first round of the season, in a game that was one-sided for many minutes.
Even a glitch in the game clock, which caused a prolonged stoppage of minutes during the first quarter, did not cool Danny Franco's players, who looked very coordinated and connected at this stage of the season, and did not leave a chance for the southern guest.
"In the end, for it to look like an easy victory, we have to work hard and perform on the field. I am very happy with the attitude the players brought to the game, and with the determination they showed throughout," Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Danny Franco said at the end.
Jacob Brown in action, yesterday, photo: Oded Karni
The special atmosphere that prevailed around the team and the hopes of the fans for a special season created an electrifying basketball atmosphere last night at the Shlomo Group hall, which was full to capacity, as the tickets sold out even before the day of the game.
"The atmosphere is an amazing feeling, today it's more difficult to get a ticket to a home game of Hapoel Tel Aviv than to win the lottery," said people at the club. "Great excitement, a packed hall, a playoff atmosphere at the beginning of October," Danny Franco added.
The team expressed satisfaction with the debut of acquired guard Xavier Manford, who led the Reds' scorers with 19 points in only 18 minutes of play.
"He is a wonderful player, his abilities are proven and known over the years and he can take a load off Jacoban. When he is good, we are good," the team complimented.
Franco.
The game against Eilat was not representative, photo: Oded Karni
Manford, who stood out in the match, shared his feelings at the end: "We had 9 preparatory games throughout the summer which helped us connect and get to know ourselves well before the season. I felt great on the pitch, we did the job from the start and now we face the London Lions. It's been two years since I played in the Eurocup and I can't wait go back there."
Despite the impressive victory, Hapoel Tel Aviv also knows that the next hurdle, the British London Lions in three days in the opening match of the Eurocup, will be a much tougher challenge.
"It is clear to us that not the whole league will look like this and it is not representative. On Tuesday, a completely different opera awaits us against London and we will have to be concentrated and focused for 40 minutes in order to be in a position to have the possibility of victory," Danny Franco concluded.
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