Maccabi fans open up about the series, PAO comments and EuroLeague return to Israel / News - Basketnews.com

BasketNews talked with a number of Maccabi fans who cheered for their team in Belgrade. They shared their opinions on the series and the comments made by Panathinaikos and reflected on Coach Kattash and the possibility of the EuroLeague returning to Tel Aviv.

Credit: Srdjan Stevanovic/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Srdjan Stevanovic/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Ever since the war broke out in Israel on October 7th, 2023, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv have been forced to play home games outside of their home country. The EuroLeague playoffs were no exception.

3-pointers this season

36%8,9Points made:8,9Accuracy:36,4%Place in standings:13Record max:19Record min:4Most made 3FGs:Tamir BlattTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Around a thousand dedicated fans traveled to Belgrade to cheer for their favorite team in the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, better known as Pionir. Serbia has become the new home for Maccabi throughout the entire 2023-24 season, and not only for Maccabi. The city welcomed three different Israeli teams during the year, allowing them to compete internationally in times of crisis.

There was a no-spectator rule enforced throughout the vast majority of the season, only allowing friends and family of the players to attend. The play-in game against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz was the first one to allow fans to come in, and around 300 of them showed up.

As Games 3 and 4 approached, Maccabi tried increasing the fan limit to allow more of their fans to come and create the atmosphere they're known for back in the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv. Initially, the club expected to receive an answer from the Belgrade police on Friday, April 26th. Then, the date was pushed to Monday, April 29th.

While waiting for a confirmation, flights had already been scheduled to depart from the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv in case the limit was increased. Finally, good news came on Tuesday morning - the Belgrade police confirmed to Maccabi they would be able to provide enough security for more than a thousand fans.

"When I saw we won the play-in game, I already started booking flights and a place to stay. My brother, who's here with me, came from New York," one of the fans, Stav, told BasketNews. "We knew we needed to be here to support the team and thank them for the amazing season in those crazy conditions and push them to Berlin."

The majority of the stand in front of the benches was filled with Maccabi fans. As soon as they arrived for Game 3, they let everybody know about their presence. Due to Pionir's acoustic features, it felt like there were even more fans than there actually were.

"We feel really welcomed in Belgrade. Everyone was really happy when we told [them] we were from Israel. Nobody caused any problems or asked us about the war. Everyone was just happy that we came to visit Belgrade," another fan, Ran, said.

Playing in exile

Serbia knows what it's like to play basketball in the EuroLeague while a war is going on in their country. In 1991, FIBA ordered Partizan Belgrade to search for a new home due to the ongoing Croatia-Yugoslavia war. The team chose Fuenlabrada, a Madrid suburb.

Sign up for our premium membership and access exclusive content Subscribe Not ready to subscribe yet? Unlock this page for only 1€ Unlock (1€)