Maccabi chairman Mizrahi explains move to Serbia, talks playoffs / News - Basketnews.com

Mizrahi said Slovenia was one of the options besides Serbia. He sees Real Madrid, Virtus, Maccabi, and Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague Final Four.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Ever since the war in Israel started on October 7th, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv have been without a home. Now situated in Belgrade, Serbia, the Israeli club continues the season in the EuroLeague.

2-pointers this season

52%22,0Points made:22,0Accuracy:52,4%Place in standings:2Record max:30Record min:15Most made 2FGs:Josh NeboTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"It's like closing a circle. I was here in 1977 with Maccabi when we won the first title. We won the European Cup here in the Pionir Hall. To come here, to play and practice here in Pionir, is like a dream that came true," Maccabi's chairman, Shimon Mizrahi, said in an interview with Dusan Ustevic from Telegraf.

Mizrahi said that while Maccabi ended up playing home games in Serbia, other countries were discussed as well.

"We appreciate Serbia and the city of Belgrade that gave us the letter to the EuroLeague and to the Israeli government, that are giving us other support and security. We had other offers on where to go, like Slovenia and other countries, but we decided to come to Serbia," the 84-year-old said.

Moving the team to an entirely different country is a logistical nightmare. Besides having to be in another country while the home nation fights a war, Maccabi also fight for a spot in the EuroLeague playoffs.

"We rented 25 apartments for our players, coaches, and people around the team here. We're feeling like at home. On October 5th, when we played against Partizan at home, that's the only game that we had at home. We had 11,000 season tickets that were sold, and we're having big difficulties with that," Mizrahi said.

"I can tell you now that our score of 12-8 (at the time of the interview), out of 12 wins, 11 were out of Tel Aviv. On the sports side, we're very successful. On the moral side, it's not the same because the players and their families are not in their local homes, and it's not easy," the chairman explained.

After the loss to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Maccabi are in the mix to get to the playoffs. While uncertainly looms over the playoff series if the Israeli team were to make it, there is a real chance that Maccabi will be among the eight teams that advance further.

"No question I think that Real [Madrid] will be one of the teams in the Final Four. Although we beat them last night, but Virtus Bologna is definitely one of the best teams. We'd like to be there, and we'll do everything we can to be there. For the fourth team, I'd say probably Olympiacos," one of the club's owners, Udi Recanati, said in the same interview.

"I think Panathinaikos is a very good team," Mizrahi added as his prediction.

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