Euro Hoops: Bnei Hasharon hosts Ankara in Eurocup opener

Coach Ariel Beit-Halachmi confident ahead of match.

By ALLON SINAI
bnei hasharon 88 (photo credit: )
bnei hasharon 88
(photo credit: )
Bnei Hasharon gets its Eurocup campaign underway on Tuesday when its hosts Turk Telecom Ankara in Ra'anana. Less than three weeks ago Bnei Hasharon was in complete disarray after opening the season with two straight league losses, but Coach Ariel Beit-Halachmi has steadied the ship since replacing Moshe Weinkrantz, and the team enters Tuesday's game in a confident mood after winning its last three BSL games. "This is a massive challenge for us," Beit-Halachmi said on Monday. "I believe in my roster and I think we can play at this level. Our players are experienced and they will not be suffering from an inferiority complex." Ankara leads the Turkish league with a perfect 7-0 record, defeating Besiktas 87-83 on Saturday. "We need to start and build a European tradition for this club," captain Meir Tapiro said. "The Turks are very aggressive under the baskets and we will need to make the most of our advantages." In other Group D action, Aris Thessaloniki visits Panellinios BC in a Greek derby. Bnei Hasharon is the only Israeli representative in the Eurocup after Hapoel Jerusalem was defeated in a playoff against Russia's Unics Kazan. Jerusalem will play in the FIBA Eurochallenge this season with its first game at home against Myguide Amsterdam on Wednesday. In other basketball news, Ironi Ramat Gan and coach Robi Balinko parted ways on Monday after the team suffered its fifth consecutive league defeat on Sunday, losing 79-64 to Ironi Nahariya.