Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Besiktas 94-73 and advanced to the EuroCup quarterfinals where they will face the winner of the Gran Canaria and Besiktas playoff game in March. The Reds came out slow on defense but after a couple of smart substitutions by head coach Danny Franco midway through the first quarter, the Reds were off and running as they went on to dominate the game and take the victory.

Hapoel ended the regular season with a 13-5 record good for second place just behind Paris in Division A which gives them an automatic bye to the quarterfinal round where they will play either Gran Canaria who finished in third place in Division B and Besiktas who ended up in 6th place in Division A as they will take part in a Play In matchup.

Tomer Ginat and Will Cummings each scored 16 points while Kyle Alexander and Timor both added 12 points in the win. Angel Delgado scored 15 points while Kyle Allman and Marko Simonovic each added 13 points in the defeat.

“The game changed after 4.5 minutes,” Franco said following the game. “We were playing a second too late and we gave up 20 points in that time but then only 53 points in final 35 minutes. We can talk X’s and O’s but this season is more than about that. This group of guys went through a lot this season and many played hurt because of our many journeys. It’s an amazing achievement. Amazing for us to qualify from the 2nd place and we’re in first place in Israel.”

Angel Delgado, Marko Simonovic and Kyle Allman all scored for Besiktas to get the Turkish club off and running, but Will Cummings, Tomer Ginat and Bar Timor came back to help Hapoel Tel Aviv take a 27-23 lead after ten minutes. Dez Wells found points for the Reds whole Derek Needham and Simonovic answered but buckets by Jaylen Hoard and J’Covan Brown gave Danny Franco’s team a 47-39 advantage at halftime.

Brown continued to find the bottom of the basket while Ginat also scored for Hapoel as Allman and Delgado countered for the hosts, but the Reds stayed in front 69-55 after thirty minutes of action. Kyle Alexander got to work in the fourth quarter, Jonah Mathews tried to keep Besiktas relevant but Ginat and Wells scored to cruise to the victory.