Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv delivered a dominant 109-91 victory over Virtus Bologna on Thursday at Arena 8888 in Sofia, extending its winning streak to four games and climbing back to fourth place in the EuroLeague standings.
The Israeli side set the tone early with high-efficiency offense, scoring 34 points in the first quarter and following it with 31 in the second to build a 65-40 halftime lead.
That 65-point output marked a club record for points in a half, reflecting Hapoel’s ability to generate quality looks through ball movement and interior finishing.
The margin continued to grow after the break, as Hapoel pushed its lead to 74-43 early in the third quarter by capitalizing on defensive stops and transition opportunities.
By the end of the third, the gap remained significant at 86-62, allowing the hosts to manage the final period without pressure.
Hapoel shot 71.8% from two-point range and 50.0% from beyond the arc, emphasizing efficient shot selection and spacing throughout the game.
Five players scored in double figures, led by Johnathan Motley, who finished with 22 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter as he returned from injury.
Dan Oturu added 14 points and four rebounds, while Antonio Blakeney also contributed 14, maintaining offensive balance across multiple positions.
Collin Malcolm and Vasilije Micic each scored 12 points, while Chris Jones controlled the tempo with 10 assists, guiding a 32-assist team performance.
Hapoel’s defensive activity also played a role, forcing 15 turnovers and limiting Virtus’s perimeter efficiency to 26.9% from three-point range.
Virtus, dealing with multiple absences, relied heavily on Darius Thompson and Semi Ojeleye, who each scored 24 points, but struggled to sustain defensive resistance.
The Italian club allowed 109 points while conceding 28 made two-point field goals, highlighting issues in rim protection and rotations.
Hapoel has now gone 7-1 in Sofia this season, continuing to treat the Bulgarian venue as a reliable home court during EuroLeague play.
The result reinforces Hapoel’s position among the top four, a critical threshold that guarantees direct playoff qualification under the current format.
Next, Hapoel faces back-to-back road tests in Spain against Real Madrid and Baskonia, while Virtus travels to face EA7 Emporio Armani Milan.
