Hapoel Tel Aviv downed Barcelona 103-87 as Vasilije Micic scored key baskets throughout the contest while Antonio Blakeney and Dan Oturu filled the hoop to help the Reds to the win on their first ever Euroleague game.

Vasilije Micic scored Hapoel Tel Aviv’s first ever points from deep as Dan Oturu also found points early on for the Reds, but Will Clyburn, Nicolas Laprovittola and Kevin Punter all responded for Barcelona, however, Antonio Blakeney hit a pair from deep to knot the game up at 26-26 after ten minutes of play. Tomer Ginat and Blakeney got to work for a quick 9-0 run to begin the second quarter while Jan Vesely and Clyburn responded, Oturu continued to find points inside but Colin Malcolm Elijah Bryant and Johnathan via Micic scored as well to take 51-45 advantage into halftime.

Clyburn continued to fill the basket with ease, but Oturu scored bucket after bucket in the paint and Micic added points too from long distance while Punter tried to kepis team relevant but Blakeney and Chris Jones would have none of that as Dimitrios Itoudis’s team took a 82-70 lead into the final frame. Micic kept finding the bottom of the basket time and time again, Vesely, Punter and Clyburn worked hard to try and cut down the gap, but Micic once again went from deep to close out the victory.

Next up for Hapoel Tel Aviv will be Anadolu EFES on Friday night before playing the first ever Euroleague Derby next Wednesday back in Sofia.

Blakeney scored 20 points, while Oturu and Micic each scored 18 points a piece in the win. Clyburn scored 23 points as Vesely and Punter had 13 points a piece in the loss.

“Congrats to all and the fans that came here from Israel and the local Bulgarian fans,” Hapoel Head Coach Dimitrios Itoudis began. “This is the first game that we are playing in this marathon and it was against Barcelona who have played in many Final Fours. We still lack communication but we played good enough to get the W. I feel great and satisfied but as a coach I still have to see what it will be like on the long run.”

“I think it’s very difficult to win away when you concede 103 points,” Barcelona Head Coach Joan Pennaroya began. “Our defense was soft and we need to improve our physical level, They played with very good percentages in the paint. It was a very bad game from our defense. Hapoel controlled the entire 40 minutes and we have to improve our physical level, Hapoel played better than us.”

Ish Wainright also spoke about the opening game, “It’s a blessing, we had a lot of fun, the atmosphere was amazing. That was our first game, it’s history, but it’s a marathon, one of many. Amazing and proud of the guys. We had a couple of mishaps and that’s something we will break down and watch film, but scoring over 100 points in the Euroleague is amazing we have to keep it going.”