Daniel Oturu made an instant impact in Israel, scoring 18 points to help Hapoel Tel Aviv kick off their maiden EuroLeague campaign with an emphatic 103–87 victory over Barcelona at the Arena 8888 in Sofia, Bulgaria, Bold Sports reports.
Hapoel Tel Aviv, fresh from winning the EuroCup after defeating CB Gran Canaria in the final, are making their first-ever EuroLeague appearance. Determined to compete at the highest level, the club bolstered their roster with a mix of experienced stars.
Head coach Dimitrios Itoudis handed starts to Vassilis Micic, Elijah Bryant, Colin Malcolm, Ish Wainright, and Oturu. The Nigerian-American big man delivered with 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting, four rebounds, one assist, and a block.
Antonio Blakeney led the scoring with 20 points, while Puerto Rican center Tai Osazeeonamen Odiase matched Oturu’s 18. Chris Jones (12) and Elijah Bryant (11) also contributed double figures in the win.
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For Barcelona, Will Clyburn’s game-high 23 points could not prevent defeat. Kevin Punter and Jan Veselý chipped in 13 points apiece, but the Spanish giants ultimately fell short against an inspired Hapoel side.
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