Hapoel Tel Aviv staring down 0-2 Euroleague quarterfinal hole vs Real Madrid

Alberto Abalde #6 of Real Madrid and David DeJulius #5 of UCAM Murcia in action during Round 29 of Liga Endesa ACB match between Real Madrid and UCAM Murcia at Movistar Arena on May 03, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (credit: Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images)

Itoudis summed up his team’s performance.

“We saw two different teams. In the first half, we were competitive, we followed the game plan, and knew how to cope even when they were leading. Unfortunately, we lost our composure, there was pressure on the playmakers, we collapsed in the third quarter, and Real Madrid’s second unit scored 16 points. They deserved to win. We’ve shown on many occasions that we can compete. We’re here to compete, and we need to extend those 20 minutes into 40 minutes. We need to win, we don’t want to get swept.”

Itoudis: Real Madrid 'put a lot of pressure on us'

On what caused the change in the second half, the bench boss explained: “They put a lot of pressure on us, took away passing lanes, created many good looks, and knew how to take advantage of our inconsistency in executing the game plan. They are good players, very experienced, and they used that along with their size advantage.”

Oturu also spoke after the game.

“We didn’t play well enough, that’s what happened. The difference between the halves? Two completely different teams, and that’s unacceptable. I don’t know what happened in the third quarter – we just didn’t play the way we were supposed to. I always believe we can win. Tomorrow is a new day. We’ll focus on practice and hopefully come out with the right energy. It’s only 2-0, and we’re still in it.”

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