Hapoel Tel Aviv did what they had to do and what they were expected to do, when they eliminated Maccabi Rishon Lezion 2-1 after a tough series that saw Dimitrios Itoudis’s team – or remnants of a squad that remained after the Euroleague season – tested to the maximum.
After falling at home in Game 1, the Reds needed to dig deep, both mentally and physically, to take Game 2 on the road and then Game 3 back at Yad Eliyahu, with both wins being authored more or less by Vasilije Micic.
Hapoel is without its top three stars, with Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu in the US and Antonio Blakeney rehabbing. Someone had to step up, and it was Micic who did in a huge way.
Game 2 saw the Serbian maestro score 18 points and add six assists, while in Game 3, he chalked up 23 points and dished out helpers to assert his authority on both games.
EuroCup MVP could be pivotal for Hapoel Jerusalem
It won’t be a simple task for Itoudis to put together the best matchups for the best-of-five semifinal with Hapoel Jerusalem, which tipped off late Sunday. This series will be fascinating and could be the classic that the league so much needs after such a tough season, from the war and then the Israeli players’ strike.
Not to forget, reigning MVP and back-to-back EuroCup Most Valuable Player, Jared Harper, will no doubt try to put his stamp on the semis for Hapoel Jerusalem. And Jerusalem still has Levi Randolph and Keandre Cook, one of whom will be registered in place of the injured Tai Odiase
The other semifinal, featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Hapoel Holon and beginning on Monday night, should also provide plenty of fireworks. Bottom line, all four teams in the semis have as good a chance as each other to punch their ticket to the finals.
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