By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
While everyone was busy watching Euroleague games, it was a really busy Thursday in Eurocup. Just after the end of the first round, Cibona announced that coach Neven Spahija was fired and his assistant and former player Slaven Rimac succeeded him. He will have some hard work ahead of him, since Cibona, a former Croatian powerhouse, has a streak of 17 Eurocup defeats.
Also Lukoil Academic from Bulgaria announced that 42 years old rookie at top level, Greek Dimitris Galanis, is their new coach after the team parted ways last week with Oliver Kostic.
Also, Hapoel Jerusalem got the signature of 28 years old Lior Eliyahu in a three years deal. The former Maccabi Tel Aviv player and also a starter in the Israeli national team is expected to earn around 1 million dollars for the next three years. Once considered a candidate even for the NBA, Eliyahu wasn’t satisfied by the offer Maccabi made him last summer in order to resign him. Also on Wednesday Czech club Nymburk announced the signing of 33 years old point guard Vlado Ilievski.