Rilski hosting Hapoel in their first quarterfinal game

BC Rilski Sportist will host BC Hapoel Tel Aviv in the opening game of the quarterfinal series between the two clubs. This season the League approved a new format, where the tеаm that was third-placed in the regular season plays the first game at home, while the second-placed team from the other group is hosting the second and eventually the third game.

Rilski Sportist (third in Group A, 6-4) are hosting Hapoel Tel Aviv (second in Group B, 8-2) in Arena Samokov in Samokov, as this is Rilski’s second appearance in the quarterfinals of the BIBL, while Hapoel Tel Aviv are making their debut, as this is their first season in the competition.

Rilski will rely on Branko Mirkovic, as he is the team’s leading scorer with 18.0 points per game, as he also leads the team in assists – 5.0 average. Filip Vukosavljevic adds 16.0 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds. Asen Velikov and Martin Marinov are adding 8.6 points each, while Hristo Zahariev scores 8.4 points and a team-high 2.4 steals per game.

On the other side we have Curtis Kelly, who is averaging 18.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals and blocked shots. Demontez Stitt adds 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists while Cory Carr has 10.8 points, 4.1 boards and 3.0 assists. Former Israeli national team player Matan Naor averages 10.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

The other two games are scheduled for the 27th of March and the 29th of March (if needed) in Hadar Yosef, Hapoel Tel Aviv’s hall.

Tip-off for the first game will be at 17.45 local time on Tuesday, the 20th of March in Arena Samokov. The game will be officiated by Ioannis Foufis (Greece), Marius Ciulin (Romania) and Petros Papapetrou (Greece), and the commissioner will be Eleonra Rangelova from Bulgaria.

The game will be available online at Sport Media TV and also will be broadcasted live on BNT World and BNT 2.