By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After five years at Hapoel U-NET Holon, Guy Pnini is back for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv on a 1+1 contract, the team announced Thursday confirming earlier reports on his return.
Per the press release: “The experience, the intelligence and the heart. Lots of heart. Now he is back home. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv signed Guy Pnini on a one-year contract, with an option for one more year. The veteran forward, who played eight seasons in Yad Eliyahu and captained the team that won the 2014 EuroLeague title, returns to the club he grew in.
“I am delighted to come back home, to where I grew and learned to play basketball”, said Guy Pnini to maccabi.co.il, “I am excited to once again wear the yellow jersey and meet the fans love so much in the arena. I missed it. I’m sure that it will be a very exciting season, and I will see you soon”.
Maccabi’s head coach, Oded Kattash, welcomed Pnini: “I am very happy that Guy Pnini joins us and returns home. Guy has immense experience and there’s no need to expand about his basketball IQ. He will help us on the court and off it. I trust him and sure our fans will be happy to see him with the yellow jersey again”.
“The boy is back home”, celebrated club chairman Shimon Mizrahi, “I send a warm hug to Guy on his return. As a player who went through all of Maccabi youth categories and later won with 13 titles with us, including the 2014 EuroLeague, 3 league championships, 8 Israeli cups and the Adriatic league, and as a player who still plays on the Israeli national team, you can certainly say he is ש remarkable player. A leader, a mentor and an example for perseverance, who shows age is just a number. I am sure he will make his mark again with the team we are creating. Good luck, Guy”.
Guy Pnini was born on September 4th, 1983 and grew up, as mentioned, in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s renowned youth system. He joined Ironi Raanana, later named Bnei HaSharon, and went on to win to cups with Hapoel Jerusalem. He moved to Belgrade, spent time in Cyprus and in 2009 returned to Maccabi – this time with the senior team.
With Maccabi, Pnini achieved three Israeli championships and eight Israeli cups, won the Adriatic league and famously lifted the EuroLeague title in 2014 as the captain. In 2017 he left Maccabi for Holon, where he won a cup, a league title and the Balkan League.”
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League