Hapoel Jerusalem just completed their preseason tournament in Bosnia where they went 1-2 with a win over Turk Telekom to go along with a pair of losses to Partizan Belgrade and Galatasaray. However, putting the results aside, the team was able to get in some quality training camp time away from the hustle and bustle of Israel’s capital as the players got to spend some quality time with one another. Both new and returning players were able to bond together as they begin preparations for the season ahead which was a key element to head coach Aleksandr Dzikic’s reasoning to head abroad for a couple of weeks.

In addition to the time off of the court which will be invaluable as the campaign continues, the Reds also faced quality competition where they were able to down Turk Telekom 87-79 in a game that newcomer Bryton Lemar scored 23 points, fall to Euroleague side Partizan Belgrade 86-81 with Khadeen Carrington scoring 13 points with four other players notching 11 points a piece before succumbing to defeat at the hands of Galatasaray 99-89 in a game that Carrington scored 16 points and new captain Levi Randolph added 14.

While there are definite points of concern with Yovel Zoosman, Chris Johnson and Maurice Ndour’s performances, it should be noted that all three are brand new to the team and are learning a system under Dzikic that of course will take some time to digest.

“We’re mostly healthy and that’s important,” Dzikic began. “We have some new guys that we want to use as quickly as possible and that’s always a process. So now again we’ll learn to play with each other for each other, try to channel the energy of all the people on the floor in the club and around the players to understand what is most important and you know to buy in. That’s what we are doing right now.”

“We’ll see when everything, where everything starts, when everything starts to count. These are just preseason games, we played on the 5th, the 7th, the 8th and the 10th which is four games in 6 days. I have to be satisfied with the intensity and focus most of the time. It’s early but it seems like we have good guys. I have to say that I’m satisfied.”

At the end of the day, if the coach is satisfied that is what is most important at this stage of the game. He understands what has worked and what still needs work.

Over at Hapoel Tel Aviv, the reds downed a game Hapoel Eilat 91-86 in their preseason tilt at the Tichonet High School but for Danny Franco’s squad there is plenty more work to do as they ready to head abroad for an exhibition tournament in Poland.

Last year’s runner-up had a makeshift squad available for the game that was played in front of over 700 fans without injured J’Covan Brown and Xavier Munford as well as a pair of players who were at the World Cup in Kyle Alexander who captured a bronze medal with Canada and Puerto Rico’s John Holland. However, who did play were Jaylen Hoard who is coming off an injury himself put in a workmanlike effort with 16 points going 6/7 from the field, Braian Angola made his debut with 16 points while hitting some sweet triples while Jeff Withey who hopes to stick with the team provided a massive presence in the paint.

Add to that fine performances by Tomer Ginat who led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds, Idan Zalmanson with 11 points and Bar Timor with 7 assists, the Israeli contingent looked worked together like a well-oiled machine.

One standout for Hapoel was youngster Eyal Harel who did not receive much playing time last year but did take in practice after practice and learnt the ropes from the veterans scored 12 points and dished out 4 assists to the delight of the partisan crowd.

But as Danny Franco noted, this is just preseason and thus far the it has not been ideal without a full squad at his disposal.

“It was good to run and to see Jaylen on the court for the first time. Angola is also getting his first touches and we’ve had a bunch of injuries so the preparation has not been ideal in my point of view. But I’m not that concerned because we have a good base and we just need some time to work together but we are behind due to things that are out of our control. We will take advantage of the time that we do have together up until the start of the season in order to come in ready to go.”

Hoard was happy to get back onto the floor and will have a much bigger role after Chinanu Onuaku signed with Badalona, “It felt good especially being out as I got injured during the summer, but I was able to work on my game and do what I could staying off my legs. It was good to finally play with the team and the new guys, getting familiar with everybody. So far the guys we added, I feel really good about it. We had a good team last year but the guys they brought in this year I feel they are going to help us just as much or even more, so it will be good.”

While Franco will need to continue working in his players one thing is very clear to the naked eye which is that Hapoel Tel Aviv is a very, very deep team, 12 deep in fact and perhaps even 13 should Withey remain with the club. That’s a seriously long bench and one that should be a big benefit for the reds.

Finally, Hapoel Eilat has some solid pieces to work with and will be a force to reckoned with as well. Head coach Massimiliano Menetti has some veterans who have played in Israel before in Tyrus McGee and Michale Kyser, plus Elijah Stewart along with naturalized sharpshooter Kyle Feit. However, one player that stood out was up and coming guard Ido Harel who dropped a dozen points going 3/5 from beyond the arc.

The Eilat native was a part of the Under-20 team that took home the silver medal at this past summer’s European Championships and will look to build off of the last few years in which he was a student of the game, growing into a role with the parent club. Harel looked like he fit like a glove on the court with the rest of the team and while that’s something that would be expected after a a yeoman’s role on the roster, it really can’t be taken for granted.

At only 20-years old, it feels as if Harel has been around the league for quite some time which is actually the reality of the situation. But that experience will only make him a better player as Eilat certainly doesn’t have the depth that other teams in the league has which is something that Menetti will be leaning on.

“I will say now to all of the players that there will always be a key player young Israeli player and that could be Ido, Koren Jorno or Kyle Feit who is a rookie and played very well. If we want to have a successful year they have to know that they are an important part of the team and Ido is one of those players.”