Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv overwhelmed Dubai Basketball 85-60 on Tuesday, January 6, at Menora Mivtachim Arena, turning a close halftime score of 36-41 into a lopsided victory behind a ferocious second-half defense.
Dubai led for much of the first half, fueled by strong boards and scoring from Dwayne Bacon and Filip Petrusev, but could not contain Hapoel’s all-around aggression after the break.
Antonio Blakeney starred for the hosts, posting 25 points and 7 rebounds, while Vasilije Micic added 19 points, orchestrating the offense and energizing the team through key defensive stops.
Hapoel dominated the glass with 47 rebounds, 14 on the offensive end, and forced Dubai into 14 turnovers in the second half alone, limiting the visitors to just six points in the fourth quarter.
The victory marked a statement bounce-back after Hapoel dropped two of its previous three games, including an 80-93 defeat to Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 19.
Coach Dimitris Itoudis praised the defensive effort and the energy from 7,000 fans, but expressed concern over Tyler Ennis’ torn Achilles, a serious setback for the guard who has previously endured multiple injuries.
Dubai’s struggles were compounded by poor shooting from deep (4-of-19) and a 31-rebound total, with Aleksa Avramovic’s 8 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals unable to spark a comeback.
The win keeps Hapoel tied with Valencia Basket atop the EuroLeague standings with a 14-6 record, while Dubai falls to 9-11 as the team looks to regroup ahead of hosting Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on Thursday.
Hapoel will next travel to face LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, continuing a busy stretch in the EuroLeague schedule and aiming to maintain momentum after a dominant performance against Dubai.
