Tremendous start of 2021 in Delasport Balkan League

The new year is here and with it we'll have a busy week to kick-off 2021 in Delasport Balkan League. A total of four games are about to be played and each is a very important one.

We start in North Macedonia tomorrow as KK Kumanovo 2009 will host KK Ibar. Those two teams have the least number of games in Group E and have some catch-up to do. Both have two wins while Ibar has one more defeat - 3 to 2, just because of having played a game more. So far Kumanovo has had 3 home games and won two so the team will be hoping to get another one. Ibar hasn't had a game in the league for more than a month due to problems with COVID-19 so it's important to see whether the players have regained some of their form. Whatever happens both teams will keep their chances of advancing further but the winner will feel more comfortable with a good start of the year.

The big action this week will be in Israel where a total of three games on Wednesday will determine some of the teams that will advance to the next stage and fight for the two spots in the next part of the competition.

In Group B the unbeated Hapoel Gilboa Galil will host Ironi Nahariya. The home side has 2 wins from 2 games and with a win will secure its first place in the group and will advance. Even if they lose however, they can still win the group if they beat Maccabi Haifa next week. Ironi however has two ways to qualify - with a win over Hapoel and then a defeat of Hapoel to Maccabi. The other way is with a win for Irono with at least 15 points as it will erase the deficit the team lost with in the first game between them. Hapoel Gilboa Galil is also in a good form in Israeli Winner League. The team has 7-2 record and is tied for second place while Ironi Nahariya is in 12th place with 1-8 record. That should also give the hosts an advantage as in the meeting they had in the league, Gilboa Galil was victorious as well.

The next game is in group A as we have Hapoel B-Cure Laser Haifa hosting Hapoel SP Tel Aviv. This group is the only one in which the team can finish with an identical record and then the point difference would come into play. Bnei Herzliya has finished with 2 wins and 2 defeats, Hapoel Tel Aviv has 2-1 record while Hapoel Haifa stands at 1-2. So a Hapoel Haifa win will put all teams on a 2-2 record and then the point difference will be the decisive factor. The first time the teams played, Haifa came out with the away win 94-90 thanks to a good all-around effort. In Israeli league Hapoel Haifa has 6-3 record while Hapoel Tel Aviv is at 2-6 but the latter team reached the semifinals of the State Cup so it will have some confidence. What is clear that it's going to be an exciting game with a lot to play for and an interesting battle is waiting us.

The last game on Wednesday evening sees Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem hosting Maccabi Rishon LeZion. Both teams have 2 wins and 1 defeat and this is their final game which makes the things more then clear - the winner will go through from that group. In the first meeting Hapoel won away but a lot of time has passed. The capital team is in better position in the local league having a 7-2 record compared to 4-4 for Maccabi but it's not something that should affect both sides. A lot has changed from that first game especially in Hapoel's roster so they'll have some new firepower for that game. The team is coming to it after two straight losses in the local league so it's important to see whether that has affected the confidence. Maccabi however also lost its final game of 2020 and has had some ups and downs this season. The team however has the potential to win away and is certainly something they'll try to do.will keep their chances of advancing further but the winner will feel more comfortable with a good start of the year.