ULEB Cup Draw profile: Hapoel Jerusalem
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A great start allowed to Hapoel Jerusalem to advance to the Last 32 as one of the best fourth placed teams. An inconsistent season, marred by roster trouble and injuries, saw Hapoel get off to a 3-1 start followed by four losses in five games before a crucial win over PGE Turow in the last round. But with Jamie Arnold, Week 3 and 4 MVP, expected back after a lengthy injury, and the always-rambunctious home atmosphere at Malha Arena, where Jerusalem has now won 9 straight ULEB Cup home games, this traditional power cannot be taken lightly. The 2004 ULEB Cup winners coached by Dan Shamir started the season with a thrilling home win over Strasbourg, 74-73, thanks to a free throw posted by Dror Hagag with 9 seconds left. In Week 2, Hapoel lost a run-and-gun style game at EiffelTowers, 101-94, but returned home for back-to-back wins that seemed to launch them to an easy walk to the elimination round. Jerusalem thrashed Unics Kazan 107-68 with an incredible performance from beyond the arc, making 15 of 22, as Arnold posted 28 points and earned MVP honors.  A week later Hapoel edged KK Zadar 84-83 as Arnold again shined with 26 points, 12 rebounds and weekly MVP honors. The momentum disappeared with road losses at Turowm where Hapoel lost 78-68, and the following to Strasbourg for an 81-72 defeat. Despite a Week 7 run-and-gun win over EiffelTowers 112-97, where Sharon Shason had 23 points, the team’s worst-ever ULEB Cup performace was to follow, as without the injured Arnold, Jerusalem was embarrassed defeated 98-45 in Russia by Unics Kazan. Anothing stinging defeat in the penultimate match in Zadar, 103-75, saw the club’s hopes start to slip away. However the team didn’t give up and a shining night helped them to beat Turow 89-74 and reach the Last 32. Big man Erez Marckovich had 25 points while Ramel Curry set a double-double of 16 and 10. Now with the players free to focus on the Last 32, it’s clear that Hapoel has the talent to beat any opponent, making this team as dangerous as it can get for the top seeded teams.
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POST-DRAW REACTIONS | Hapoel Jerusalem head coach Dan Shamir:“All the teams that finished the regular season in first place are strong sides, so you can’t say we got an easy draw. Besiktas finished the regular season with a perfect record, without and defeats, so our task will not be easy. Regardless, we have faith and hope to advance to the next stage.” | Hapoel Jerusalem general manager, Gidi Dodi:"I think every team that you will play against is gonna be difficult. This time we finished fourth so it's going to be a real tough one. Besiktas did a great job in the regular season, an amazing record, and going to Istanbul is going to be hard for us, but I am also sure that it won't be easy for them in Jerusalem. It's my fifth year in the ULEB Cup and at this point of the season, it doesn't matter what team or side of the bracket you get. In this stage everything is open. Looking at the bracket, if they qualify, the matchup between Khimki and Joventut is gonna be a monster show. But in the end, the best teams will meet in the final so, who knows?" |
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