The quarterfinals of the State Cup will start tomorrow (Saturday) at 20:00, when Maccabi Haifa will host Hapoel Holon – in a nostalgic reconstruction of one of the great finals of the current millennium, the 2009 final, in which Holon won in the last second from a three by Brian Tolbert.
For this game, the two teams have the opposite momentum: Holon with five consecutive league victories, while Maccabi Haifa with five consecutive losses – closes the table with a balance of 9: 1 and can feel in danger of relegation. In the league game between the two, Holon defeated the Greens unconditionally, 69: 105, with the players of Stefanos Dadas equaling the historic three-point record in the league.
CJ Harris continues to carry the groin injury and will not be on the roster, but Chris Johnson – who has missed the last three games – should play. Niv Misgav, who signed yesterday, will make his debut in the yellow-purple uniform.
“This is a very important game for us, we want to fight for all the titles this season, and the trophy is very important for us,” said Dadas, who is starting a significant week, which also includes a meeting with AK in the FIFA Champions League. “We have already forgotten the victory over Maccabi Haifa “In the league and we are focused solely on Saturday’s game. A trophy is a different kind of game and we do not just say that the trophy has its own rules. We want to open 2021 with a victory and the first four for the new year, and for that we will be very motivated.”
Haifa, as mentioned, arrives hunched over for this game – after a week in which they lost in the derby and also surrendered to Ness Ziona on Thursday. The club hopes that through the trophy they will be able to embark on a new path, although in light of the development of the season so far, staying in the league has become the main goal. Avi Ben Shimol, who has not been a partner in the last two games, is in great doubt.
