After three wins in three knockout games in a week, Hapoel Holon returns to a little more “standard” basketball games at this stage of the season, when it goes out today (Saturday, 20:00) for a difficult away meeting at Hapoel Galil Elyon, which returns to the floor after almost three weeks.
Holon, as mentioned, arrives after a week that included promotion to the semi-finals of the State Cup and to the top 16 in the FIBA Champions League, but it does not really intend to “rest” in Kfar Blum. Both teams are in a positive and identical balance of 5: 8 and the winner In the table.
Guy Goodes will make his league debut as Hapoel Holon coach – and hopes to continue to maintain the perfect balance since replacing Maurizio Buscalia. However, the man on the lines will have to manage the rotation well in light of the fact that last week was very intense (two overtimes against Hapoel Haifa in the cup among others) and on Wednesday he will meet Glatsray in the opening of the top 16 in the FIBA Champions League.
At the same time, Holon continues to try and find a Friday foreigner who can help distribute the loads ahead of the crowded game schedule that awaits the team. However, the player market is tough at this time of season and Holon will try to get their hands on the highest quality player they can find, whether it be a guard or an inside player.
Barak Peleg’s team, on the other hand, returned to play basketball after it was completely disabled due to the corona outbreak in the team. No less than ten players and five staff members were diagnosed with the virus and the activity was stopped for several days. Due to this, the league game against Bnei Herzliya and the quarterfinals of the cup against Maccabi Tel Aviv were postponed. Although Galil Elyon is fully training, the club also does not know how the players will return after such a long break that was forced on them in the middle of the season.
