Hap J’lem, Mac Haifa in Eurocup action

Eliyahu had just two points and two rebounds in eight minutes in his debut for the club in last week’s 76-63 Eurocup loss at Academic Sofia.

By ALLON SINAI
LIOR ELIYAHU 370 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
LIOR ELIYAHU 370
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Lior Eliyahu will look to continue his adjustment to life at Hapoel Jerusalem when the reds host Igokea Aleksandrovac of Bosnia in Eurocup action at Malha Arena on Wednesday night (live on Sport 1 at 7:20 p.m.).
After being released by Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer, the 28-year-old forward didn’t receive the offer he was hoping for from abroad and waited until two weeks ago to sign a three-year deal with Jerusalem.
Eliyahu had just two points and two rebounds in eight minutes in his debut for the club in last week’s 76-63 Eurocup loss at Academic Sofia.
However, he took a big step towards returning to top form in Jerusalem’s 75-70 BSL win over Hapoel Tel Aviv on Monday, playing 36 minutes and contributing 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Hapoel is desperate for a win over the Bosnians on Wednesday after losing two consecutive continental games to fall to 3-3 in Group E. Hapoel defeated Aleksandrovac 74-67 when the teams met in Bosnia last month.
Meanwhile, Maccabi Haifa will hope to return to winning ways when it hosts MZT Skopje of Macedonia at Romema Arena on Wednesday (live on Sport 2 at 7:50 p.m.).
After winning nine straight games in all competitions, Haifa has dropped to defeats in its past two encounters, losing 79-58 at Russian powerhouse Unics Kazan in the Eurocup last week before falling at the hands of giantkiller Ironi Ness Ziona in BSL action on Sunday.
Haifa edged Skopje 86-83 in Macedonia last month and a victory on Wednesday will see it improve to 5-2 and move to the brink of qualification for the Last 32 with three more regular season games to play.