MHaifa1913
12 Apr 2004, 09:49 PM
Hapoel Jerusalem vs. Real Madrid
20:30 Central European Time, Charleroi, Belgium
The match will be broadcasted live in Israel at 21:30 Jerusalem Standard Time on IBA 1. The match will also be broadcasted live in Spain.
From the UlebCup.com website:
Basketball history will either be added to or made new on Tuesday in Charleroi, Belgium as the continent's most-successful team ever faces a first-time European finalist in the 2004 ULEB Cup Final. Real Madrid of Spain is the traditional favorite, having won eight continental titles and having reached finals in every season when it has not played at a Euroleague level. Hapoel Jerusalem is the newcomer who in this ULEB Cup becomes just the second Israeli team ever to reach a European final. Separate experiences until now are mirrored in the differences on their rosters and their routes to the final, too. Madrid has lost just once in six playoff games, an inconsequential two-point defeat back in the eighthfinals, and have won four straight games in the quarterfinals and semifinals, evidence of a team that knows when it has to play best. Hapoel, meanwhile, has made it past slightly favored opponents in every round despite losing one game on the road to each of them. With the Final taking place on neutral site at the modern Spiroudome in Charleroi, a key question for Hapoel will be whether it can make the extra push away from home against a deeper, and arguably more experienced, Real Madrid. Despite other differences, both teams are stacked with premier players. Experienced stars like Elmer Bennett and Alberto Herreros of Real Madrid have been to continental finals before, but so have their counterparts on Hapoel, Doron Sheffer and Will Solomon. Their perimeter duels - Bennett vs. Solomon and Sheffer vs. Herreros - will be important, even decisive. On the inside, however, Madrid seems to have an advantage in terms of depth, as even a reserve forward like Antonio Bueno was able to lead Madrid in the semifinals. Buenos is usually mentioned after Madrid's better-known big men, physical Kaspars Kambala, versatile Antonis Fotsis and sturdy Pat Burke. Their star power will be challenged mainly by leaper Tunji Awojobi and banger Ido Kozikaro of Hapoel, but neither can afford foul trouble and both must be physically ready for a full 40-minute challenge, as Madrid can be expected to hammer the ball inside. Both teams have defensive stoppers at small forward, Mario Stojic for Madrid and Kelly McCarty for Hapoel. McCarty, who has played inspired ball on offense also, can be key for Hapoel if Madrid fields a big lineup with Fotsis at small forward. Another fact could be that Hapoel has rested for several days while Madrid faced, and lost to, mighty Barcelona in a Spanish League game on Saturday. Many will measure the Bennett-Solomon duel as decisive, and it could well be so. Bennett was nothing short of spectacular against Adecco Estudiantes in the semifinals, racking up 17 assists in the series and scoring 21 points in Game 2. Solomon, meanwhile, is averaging 23.7 points in the elimination rounds and stepped up with 34 against Reflex in that semifinal. If Bennett and Solomon cancel each other out, the veterans Herreros and Sheffer could offer a clue to the outcome. Herreros has raised his scoring to 11.8 points on average over the last 6 games, while Sheffer has proven one of the best passers in the competition. Whether the strong, well-balanced Hapoel starting five can overcome Madrid's superior depth will ultimately decide the question of who becomes ULEB Cup champ on Tuesday and makes it to the Euroleague next season. The answer awaits ULEB Cup fans in Charleroi!
20:30 Central European Time, Charleroi, Belgium
The match will be broadcasted live in Israel at 21:30 Jerusalem Standard Time on IBA 1. The match will also be broadcasted live in Spain.
From the UlebCup.com website:
Basketball history will either be added to or made new on Tuesday in Charleroi, Belgium as the continent's most-successful team ever faces a first-time European finalist in the 2004 ULEB Cup Final. Real Madrid of Spain is the traditional favorite, having won eight continental titles and having reached finals in every season when it has not played at a Euroleague level. Hapoel Jerusalem is the newcomer who in this ULEB Cup becomes just the second Israeli team ever to reach a European final. Separate experiences until now are mirrored in the differences on their rosters and their routes to the final, too. Madrid has lost just once in six playoff games, an inconsequential two-point defeat back in the eighthfinals, and have won four straight games in the quarterfinals and semifinals, evidence of a team that knows when it has to play best. Hapoel, meanwhile, has made it past slightly favored opponents in every round despite losing one game on the road to each of them. With the Final taking place on neutral site at the modern Spiroudome in Charleroi, a key question for Hapoel will be whether it can make the extra push away from home against a deeper, and arguably more experienced, Real Madrid. Despite other differences, both teams are stacked with premier players. Experienced stars like Elmer Bennett and Alberto Herreros of Real Madrid have been to continental finals before, but so have their counterparts on Hapoel, Doron Sheffer and Will Solomon. Their perimeter duels - Bennett vs. Solomon and Sheffer vs. Herreros - will be important, even decisive. On the inside, however, Madrid seems to have an advantage in terms of depth, as even a reserve forward like Antonio Bueno was able to lead Madrid in the semifinals. Buenos is usually mentioned after Madrid's better-known big men, physical Kaspars Kambala, versatile Antonis Fotsis and sturdy Pat Burke. Their star power will be challenged mainly by leaper Tunji Awojobi and banger Ido Kozikaro of Hapoel, but neither can afford foul trouble and both must be physically ready for a full 40-minute challenge, as Madrid can be expected to hammer the ball inside. Both teams have defensive stoppers at small forward, Mario Stojic for Madrid and Kelly McCarty for Hapoel. McCarty, who has played inspired ball on offense also, can be key for Hapoel if Madrid fields a big lineup with Fotsis at small forward. Another fact could be that Hapoel has rested for several days while Madrid faced, and lost to, mighty Barcelona in a Spanish League game on Saturday. Many will measure the Bennett-Solomon duel as decisive, and it could well be so. Bennett was nothing short of spectacular against Adecco Estudiantes in the semifinals, racking up 17 assists in the series and scoring 21 points in Game 2. Solomon, meanwhile, is averaging 23.7 points in the elimination rounds and stepped up with 34 against Reflex in that semifinal. If Bennett and Solomon cancel each other out, the veterans Herreros and Sheffer could offer a clue to the outcome. Herreros has raised his scoring to 11.8 points on average over the last 6 games, while Sheffer has proven one of the best passers in the competition. Whether the strong, well-balanced Hapoel starting five can overcome Madrid's superior depth will ultimately decide the question of who becomes ULEB Cup champ on Tuesday and makes it to the Euroleague next season. The answer awaits ULEB Cup fans in Charleroi!