Coach Drucker gets life at Hapoel Eilat off to a losing start

Sharon Drucker’s first game back in the BSL didn’t go as he hoped on Monday night. Hapoel Eilat remained without a home win this season after dropping to a 2-6 record following an 86-81 defeat to Maccabi Haifa.

Following Meir Tapiro’s sacking, assistant coach Eran Itzhak guided Eilat to its second win of the season, 88-82 at Hapoel Gilboa/Galil.

Drucker had almost two weeks to work with the roster due to the international break, but it didn’t show on Monday, with Haifa getting off to a fast start and holding on for the win.

Drucker left Lukoil Academic Sofia in Bulgaria after asking to return to Israel following the team’s exit from the FIBA Europe Cup. The 50-year-old, who is best remembered for guiding Hapoel Jerusalem to the ULEB Cup back in 2004, hadn’t coached in Israel since April 2016 when he was fired by Maccabi Rishon Lezion.

The visitors began the game with a 17-4 run, and after allowing Eilat back to within striking distance, went on a 15-1 run to take its lead to 18 points (39-21). Haifa was ahead by 19 points at the break and by 14 with 10 minutes to play, but had to survive a nail-biting finish, allowing Eilat to within two points.

Angel Rodriguez had 28 points for Haifa, which moved to 3-5.

Mike Rosario points for Eilat.

“We have a lot of work to do,” said Drucker. “There is a lot we need to improve on, on the offensive and defensive ends. In the second half we came back from 19 points down so that is one positive we can take from this game.”

Also Monday, Yiftach Ziv led a balanced Ironi Nahariya offense in an 81-76 win against Maccabi Ashdod. Ziv led five players in double figures with 19 points and Nahariya improved to 5-3. David Laury had21 points for Ashdod, which fell to 2-6.

Hapoel Gilboa/Galil moved to 4-4 with a 99-74 thrashing scored 27