By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Riga is the new home for Hapoel Holon.
The Basketball Champions League made the move official on Tuesday, reacting to AEK Betsson revoking the invitation to host the Israeli club in Athens.
The initial decision was to play home games in the capital of Greece, as announced last Wednesday. However, Holon will instead relocate to the capital of Latvia, sharing Arena Riga will fellow Champions League participant VEF Riga.
Per the press release: “Hapoel Holon will play their home games for Group F of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season in Riga, Latvia.
The decision was taken due to the current security situation in Israel, in consultation with all stakeholders and after the Latvian government and the Latvian Basketball Federation provided all necessary guarantees.
Hapoel Holon will play their home games in Arena Riga, that is the regular homecourt venue of fellow BCL club VEF Riga.
The Israeli team’s first game as the nominal host in Riga will be against Rio Breogan, and is scheduled to tip off on Wednesday, November 15th, at 20:30 CET (21:30 local time).
The two next games of Hapoel Holon in Arena Riga will be against Telekom Baskets Bonn, on Wednesday, December 6th at 20:00 CET (21:00 local) and against Bursaspor Info Yatirim, on Wednesday, December 20th, at 20:00 CET (21:00 local).
The Basketball Champions League wishes to thank all concerned parties and in particular the Latvian Basketball Federation and VEF Riga for their hospitality and assistance.”
The team coached by Amit Sherf went up to 1-0 in the Regular Season with a win against defending champion Telekom Baskets Bonn.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League