Must-win situation for Hap J’lem in Eurocup

Jerusalem dropped to a 1-2 record in Group A last week after falling to a 91-75 defeat to the impressive Frenchmen at Malha Arena.

By ALLON SINAI
JARVIS VARNADO of Hapoel Jerusalem slams 311 (photo credit: Hapoel Jerusalem website)
JARVIS VARNADO of Hapoel Jerusalem slams 311
(photo credit: Hapoel Jerusalem website)
Hapoel Jerusalem could lose hold of its Eurocup destiny should it fail to defeat BCM Gravelines in France on Tuesday night.
Jerusalem dropped to a 1-2 record in Group A last week after falling to a 91-75 defeat to the impressive Frenchmen at Malha Arena.
The unbeaten Gravelines will clinch a place in the last 16 with a win on Tuesday, but while the Frenchman can afford to lose, Hapoel will likely find itself with a mountain to climb should it suffer a second straight defeat.
A Hapoel loss combined with a BC Donetsk victory over the winless Cibona Zagreb will leave Jerusalem needing two wins from its last two games, including a victory by at least 10 points over the Ukrainians when they come to Malha next week.
Oded Katash’s men will then also need to beat Cibona in Croatia in two weeks time and for Gravelines to get the better of Donetsk in order to advance to the next round.
However, Jerusalem can put aside all the complicated calculations and keep its fate in its own hands with a win in France on Tuesday.
For that to happen, Hapoel will have to be at its very best, with Gravelines leading the French league with an 8-1 record and winning its first three games in the Eurocup by an average 23.7 points.