THE AEK Betsson BC is called tonight to give a crucial game in the “16” phase of the Basketball Champions League, facing the Hapoel Holon (19:00, sport-fm.gr, Cosmotesport 5) in neutral Szombathely, Hungary, for the second matchday of the groups.
The premiere game a week ago and the away defeat by Prometheus Patras with a score of 80-79, was the “swan song” of Joan Plata in the technique of “Union”, which proceeded to replace the Spanish technician with Ilias Zouro. The Greek coach made his debut in Saturday’s league game with a victory over Karditsa (86-95).
Tonight, he will make his “first” European appearance with the “yellow and black” with the sole goal of the first victory in the group against a team that was also defeated in its premiere by Murtia (78-61).
“We are facing Hapoel Holon, a team that plays special basketball, as is the case with most teams from Israel. With complex defenses, with persistence in the “zone”. This is a group that is trying to impose a different approach.
We, for our part, must be focused. It goes without saying that we have to play good defense, which is the most important element in a team and one of the pieces that we have to improve. Of course, at the given time the main thing is the victory. To find time to correct things, that is to enter a different philosophy, so that we can have the basketball we want and the results we want.
It is a very important match, but it is only the second match. We should have no pressure. In any case, we have to fight for the victory and “in the end we will cash out”. But every victory in this phase of the BCL, especially away from home, is… gold”, said the AEK coach ahead of tonight’s match.
On the other hand, the Israelis are coming off an 87-71 home win over Hapoel Eliat for the championship, where they are in 4th place with a 5-3 record. With three wins in the last 5 games she looks in good shape, however, the fact that she is playing away from home might be a disadvantage for her.
In the competition now, out for AEK was left Dimitris Flionis, who hasn’t overcome the problem in his waist, but also Langston Hall, who is essentially a past from the team. THE Mindaugas Kuzminskas although he is not yet ready to compete, he traveled with the team. All others are normally in the mission.
Source: Sport Fm
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