Itoudis: “Since Euroleague is thinking about expansion, let’s hear the voices of the owner of Hapoel”

Hapoel Tel Aviv’s coach, Dimitris Itoudis“Hosted” at the Eok Webradio and talked about qualifying for his team in his finals Eurocupas well as the sequel to the season.

The experienced coach referred to the reasons he was persuaded to take over the technical leadership of the Israeli mid -season team of the season, which is no other than the high goals set by the owner of the Israeli club, Effe Janai.

At the same time, he referred to the fact that if the Hapoel Tel Aviv conquered the Eurocupthen he will fight in the Euroleague of the next season.

In detail what he said:

For the hitherto course of Hapoel Tel Aviv: “We are in the process of” building “, despite the fact that the team has made historical wins, because it is the first time Hapoel Tel Aviv won a match of the quarter-finals. We didn’t expect it to happen, because the things we want to “build” take time. This does not mean that we did not prepare for the best possible scenario. We knew we were playing with the best Eurocup team, which has proven this in Spain and Europe, and its roster is with 9 Euroleague experiences. More generally they have a basketball mentality in recent years, conquering Eurocup. I think we were a better team in a row. We lost the 1st match, but we had a bad 3rd quarter. In the other quarters we imposed our pace from the different defensive approach we had against them in relation to all the groups they have played against them. We tried not to give them the transition game and the three -point, which are their strong “weapons”, and in general many other details that had to be done to get the good result. Congratulations to all who contributed to it. We look at the next day with optimism. “

To support the world in Game 2: “In Bulgaria, people are hospitable, both in the Borovets we live in, and in Samokov. It’s another to play on an empty court and the world come. They came around 2,000 fans, Valencia felt them, but our team also got something extra with a full stadium and from the excitement of the world in these difficult days. “

For their opponent in the finals, Gran Canaria, in relation to Valencia: “It’s an equally very experienced team, after all, 2023 won the Eurocup. It is also “built” to conquer the trophy. Her presence on ACB is excellent. He did a “break” against Hapoel Jerusalem and against Bahcesehir. He has experience in away games, he can play high and low score, he has a roster with experienced kids, but at the same time he is in size, he can run and read the game. He is a very difficult opponent. But it wouldn’t be different, to get the trophy you have to win very strong opponents. “

For the changes to the roster: “Beverly left at the beginning of the season, Motley returned and Madar came. These additions are important. Apparently the roster changed quite a bit. We worked on Motley to return and add Madar to the roster. Changed Dimension and the team dimension completely with these two additions. “

Whether it is the most difficult team “building” his coaching career: “I had never been to a team in the middle of the season, so it was something new for me. The team was set up by Stefanos Deda. I had decided that I wouldn’t work this season, but the team’s owner was talking on the phone with me every now and then, presenting his vision, what he wants to do with Hapoel Tel Aviv and what he wants to offer in the sport. We all need to hear, listen and discuss with people who are ready to invest. As long as the Euroleague is also thinking about expanding other groups, the voices and actions of our team’s owner should be heard. So he convinced me, worked together and I’m here right now trying to “build” something good. “

For the owner of the team, Effe Janai: “He’s new in basketball and sports, so excitement is something that holds him. It is another to have a friction, an experience and to support it over time and it is another to be new and to have some ideas on its own or that it has taken from others. Ofer concerns him in a very full 24 -hour basketball of his own and finds time for basketball, his coaches, his players. Apparently he is satisfied with the course of his team, but he continues to see in the future. I think it’s time to expand the Euroleague to the teams, to raise the championship, to change the way the games are played, to go to more games in a different style. Ofer always finds time to ask and learn, because he would like to know even more about basketball. We have already come into contact with various people who have more experience than himself, but the fact that he has hours, supports what he told me on the phone when we agreed, that he wants to invest in basketball, to go into a completely different dimension. The Euroleague is the most impressive and ambiguous championship and already the change we proposed by the Euroleague coaches association with the play-in gave a completely different entity and glamor to the normal period. “

For Eurocup dynamics in relation to Euroleague: “” Diving “deep into the competition, there are very good players, many of them frame and will continue to frame Euroleague teams. It is a very high level competitive championship that, like the Euroleague, has everything in. The quarter-finals are a knockout game, it has the play-offs in order and then again in the final. The series with Valencia was excellent, it was a Euroleague level. It’s time to think about this in the Euroleague. The play-offs will essentially lengthen competitiveness and the championship, but they will also give more to the owners of the teams because they will be at home to one another. “