By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
At the start of a new season for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, owner Shimon Mizrahi, GM Nikola Vujcic, and head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos led in a press conference held Monday. All players attended as well.
“It’s very important to say less and work on the court more. This is the period we need to adjust fast to the new parameters and the new way of playing,” said Sfairopoulos laying out the blueprint for 2021-22, one month before the first game of the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.
“I want to thank the owners and the management for the effort through the summer to rebuild the team, to bring new blood in the family of Maccabi. I am very happy with how we build the team and how we strengthened our roster. We have players we believe can succeed,” added the Greek head coach.
The Israeli powerhouse signed Jake Cohen, Keenan Evans, Ben Harush, James Nunnally, Jalen Reynolds, Roman Sorkin, Kameron Taylor, Derrick Williams, and Yiftach Ziv pairing them with returning players Scottie Wilbekin, Angelo Caloiaro, John DiBartolomeo, Oz Blayzer, and Ante Zizic.
“We pride ourselves in our defense. That’s our focus and where we want to start,” mentioned captain DiBartolomeo, “Aggressiveness and intensity on both ends. We hope that will give us our rhythm in the offense. Offensively, it’s just playing together, taking advantage of mismatches, reading. These are things coming with time and getting to know one another.”
“A new season starts with a lot of dreams and ambitions. Everybody at the club is very happy to start the new season,” said Sfairopoulos regarding his fourth campaign at Maccabi.
Photo Credit: Maccabi