By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Sporting events in Israel have been put on hold over the last few days, including various teams participating in European club continental competitions.
J’Covan Brown and Xavier Munford of BKT EuroCup outfit Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv managed to find a spot in Athens to practice and stay in shape ahead of potentially resuming the campaign. Granting their request for a workout, AEK Betsson welcomed them to the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall on Wednesday.
Sharing the special moment across the team’s official social media accounts, AEK displayed Jordan McRae posing with his former Hapoel Tel Aviv teammates in the gym.
In turn, the Israeli club thanked AEK for the hospitality via a reply on Twitter (X).
Η αλληλεγγύη είναι το ζητούμενο στις δύσκολες ώρες του πολέμου στη Μέση Ανατολή. Ένας παλιός μας γνώριμος, ο J’Covan Brown και ο συμπαίκτης του Χavier Munford, ζήτησαν και προπονήθηκαν στο γήπεδό μας.
Στο Olympic Hall τους υποδέχτηκε ο Jordan McRae. @HapoelTLVBC #aekbetssonbc pic.twitter.com/xhwRkAnFow
— AEK B.C. (@aekbcgr) October 11, 2023
The former Tennessee standout in McRae played alongside both Brown and Munford during the 2022-23 season, before signing with the Greek club for the 2023-24 season. Another connection between the involved parties is Brown’s stint with AEK at the bottom end of the 2015-16 season.
The Queen, 0-1 in the 2023-24 edition of Greece’s Basket League, will play host to Olympiacos on Sunday. Launching the eighth consecutive campaign in the Basketball Champions League will surely mark one of the highlights of the 100th season in team history.
The team based in Tel Aviv went up to 1-0 with a convincing win over Cedevita Olimpija in the opening round of the EuroCup Regular Season and had yet to start the Winner League schedule before the ongoing conflict paused game action.
Photo Credit: AEK B.C. Twitter