It’s off to the EuroLeague leaders: On Thursday evening, FC Bayern Basketball will face EuroCup champions Hapoel Tel Aviv for the first time. The Israeli newcomers have impressively brought their tremendous quality to the floor so far—and in their debut season in Europe’s strongest league, they are already considered Final Four contenders. After three home wins in their last four games, Munich want to sell themselves dearly even against the favorites.
Tip-off is at 8:05 p.m. (live on MagentaSport). In the Bundesliga, Bayern will host Ulm on Sunday at BMW Park (6:00 p.m.) for the South Derby.
Top scorer Bryant, marquee signing Micic
Hapoel’s heavily reinforced team continues to lead the top-tier table with 16 wins from 23 games, though defending champions Fenerbahce Istanbul drew level last week. The powerhouse, which currently tops the domestic Super League (14–1), suffered a 104–101 overtime defeat on a rescheduled date at Munich’s BMW Park against Partizan Belgrade, despite leading by 27 points midway through the third quarter.
Elijah Bryant (15 ppg), slightly banged up, watched from courtside; with a PIR of 20.4 he currently ranks third among the most efficient players. He also sat out Sunday’s 112–108 league win over Be’er Sheva, again after overtime; the top scorer, who arrived from Efes, remained sidelined.
Even so, the list of big names in Hapoel’s squad under coach Dimitris Itoudis is impressive, led by marquee signing Vasa Micic (12.0 ppg, 4.1 apg), who returned from the NBA; center Dan Oturo (13.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg/also from Efes); American guards Antonio Blakeney (13.0 ppg, 42.3% from three) and Chris Jones (10.0 ppg, 40.5%/Valencia); as well as Jonathan Motley (8.7 ppg). “The last game against them at the SAP Garden actually went quite well for us; we want to try to build on that,” says FCBB forward Niels Giffey. “But of course it’s going to be very tough, because Hapoel are extremely strong.”
Sunday: the South Derby against Ulm
Hapoel won the first meeting at the SAP Garden 82–72 (32–44) with a focused performance. The top scorers were Bryant (18) and Oturo (16), and the visitors had the edge on the boards (37–31).
Xavier Rathan-Mayes has recently been taking the court in the new adidas Harden Vol. 10 basketball shoes. The model is the latest evolution of James Harden’s signature line and offers, among other things, a redesigned traction pattern and lightweight, full-length cushioning for quick changes of direction.
Next games:
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THU, 29 January, 8:05 p.m.: EuroLeague Gameday 25, Hapoel Tel Aviv – FCBB (MagentaSport)
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SUN, 1 February, 6:00 p.m.: easyCredit BBL Gameday 19, FCBB – ratiopharm Ulm (BMW Park)
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TUE, 3 February, 8:30 p.m.: EuroLeague Gameday 26, FCBB – Paris Basketball (SAP Garden)
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THU, 5 February, 8:30 p.m.: EuroLeague Gameday 27, FCBB – AS Monaco (SAP Garden)
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SUN, 8 February, 6:00 p.m.: easyCredit BBL Gameday 20, MLP Academics Heidelberg – FCBB
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THU, 12 February, 8:05 p.m.: EuroLeague Gameday 28, Maccabi Tel Aviv – FCBB