Hapoel Tel Aviv moved closer to the semi-finals of the Premier League playoffs, thanks to a crushing 75:106 victory over Iruni Nes Ziona this evening (Saturday) which put them up 0:2 in the quarter-final series. Xavier Manford starred in the winning team with 30 points, and Tomer Ginat also stood out with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds.
“I’m happy about the attitude we brought to the game today, we continued the second half from the previous game,” said coach Danny Franco after the game. “During the break, we focused on not having a good first half and disappearing in the second, but continuing the approach the whole game, I’m glad we did it.”
Franco continued: “I left the players with the mental aspect today, they deserve to enjoy this moment, we will meet tomorrow, there is mental work here. It is dangerous with us, when you come to the drive there is not full after a game like this, so very quickly – like today Nes Ziona – come back. You have to Be careful of that.”
On the improvement of Chinano Onuaku: “It’s been a few weeks since Onuaku made a switch in the level of effort, intensity and physicality in defense, it helps him to be absorbed in the team. We have many players with talent, without physicality and aggressiveness we will not achieve anything this season. His offenses today They didn’t come as a result of defense, but cheap fouls, he knows he has to be careful of that. Every series and its advantages, today we held Ness Ziona to a low score, and they are a team that ran and with abilities. This is our way, this is the stage in the season where we have to pick up the gear.”
