Hapoel Tel Aviv Dominates Anadolu Efes 118-88 as Blakeney Scores 35 Points

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a dominant 118-88 victory over Anadolu Efes, powered by an exceptional performance from Antonio Blakeney, who poured in 35 points including eight three-pointers from nine attempts.

Speaking after the game, teammate Johnathan Motley heaped praise on Blakeney, calling him a special and fiercely competitive player who continuously works hard to improve. Motley himself starred in the blowout with 20 points, while Elijah Bryant contributed a double-double of 16 points and 12 assists. Tomas Satoransky also delivered a solid all-around display with 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.

The commanding win propelled Hapoel Tel Aviv to third place in the EuroLeague standings with a record of six wins and two losses, serving as a swift response to their domestic league defeat against Hapoel Jerusalem earlier in the week. The Reds set the tone early with an aggressive start, and a blistering 22-4 run in the second quarter effectively turned the match into garbage time by halftime.

Despite the triumph, the club faces squad depth challenges ahead of their upcoming clash against Dubai on Friday. Hapoel traveled to Sofia with just 13 players and opted to dress only 11 due to a viral illness affecting Jacob Toppin and an ankle sensitivity sidelining Vasilije Micic. The coaching staff is working on logistics to fly in a replacement from Israel in time for the pre-match training session.