Hapoel Tel Aviv Falls 93-82 to Valencia in EuroLeague Away Clash

Hapoel Tel Aviv returned from Spain with complaints about the refereeing and defensive lapses following a 93-82 away loss to Valencia, which dropped the team to a 2-2 record in the EuroLeague.

Hapoel struggled early, allowing Valencia to sink four three-pointers, several of them completely uncontested. Head coach Dimitris Itoudis reacted with aggressive rotations, limiting Zach LeDay to under 18 minutes. Eugene German was pulled after early mistakes, while Itoudis eventually found a workable lineup featuring Antonio Blakeney, Braian Angola, and other key pieces, though Dan Oturu and Tai Odiase had quieter nights.

Controversial Calls and Blakeney Brilliance

Early in the second half, when Hapoel mounted a comeback, crucial refereeing decisions frustrated the team. "The peak was a bizarre foul called on Odiase during a rebound after a free throw," club officials stated. "When it mattered, Valencia was sent to the line repeatedly, while we did not get there."

Antonio Blakeney was the bright spot for Hapoel, setting a career EuroLeague high with 8 out of 11 three-pointers en route to 30 points.

"We played against an excellent team that plays at a fast pace. I think we didn't control their tempo, but we fought back from double-digit deficits," said Blakeney.

Looking Ahead to Domestic Action

Tai Odiase, who finished with 8 points, added that the team failed to match Valencia's early energy. Meanwhile, center Dan Oturu continued a difficult stretch, scoring just 6 points for his third consecutive single-digit game, a sharp contrast to his dominance last season.

Hapoel will return to Israel to prepare for their league opener against Hapoel Beersheba on Sunday. The coaching staff will have to make a tough decision regarding which five foreign players to register for the domestic game out of their deep roster, before heading to Sofia for an upcoming double-week featuring Besiktas and Panathinaikos.