Hapoel Holon has already been effectively eliminated from the Champions League, but its fans will have two chances to say goodbye to this season in the European factory with the last two home games in the Top 16 – tomorrow (Wednesday, 19:00) against Strasbourg and next week against Dijon.
The two games will be meaningless, because Strasbourg and Hapoel Jerusalem have secured their place in the quarter-finals, and the fight for first place in the 9th group will be decided in the direct meeting between them in the lockout round.
It is doubtful whether Manny Harris believed that he would make his renewed debut in Holon when the chance to advance was lost and gone, but only tomorrow will the guard be allowed to wear the purple uniform again. Shaun Dawson, Freddie Bourdion and the injured Shahar Amir will be absent from the game, while Marvin Jones is suffering from a strained back and his participation is in doubt.
“We arrive in an unfamiliar situation, when the game is protocol, so to speak, and our job is to take advantage of the two remaining games in the Champions League to prepare for the Premier League and arrive in the best shape for the decisive moments in the upper house and the playoffs,” said assistant coach Amit Sharaf. “I’m sure that despite the lack of importance in the game, the audience will be able to enjoy a European West at a high level.”