By Alex Madrid/ info@eurohoops.net
Last summer Maccabi Tel Aviv told Yogev Ohayon, Guy Pnini and Sylven Landesberg that their services were no longer needed. All of them were part of the team that conquered Europe back in 2014 but new coach Neven Spahija decided to clean the locker room after three disappointing campaigns.
Ohayon signed with the BSL reigning champs Hapoel Jerusalem. Pnini also stayed in Israel with Hapoel Holon which competes in the Basketball Champions League. But American/Israeli forward Sylven Landesberg took a brave decision and moved to Spain where he signed with Movistar Estudiantes.
During the last few seasons, Landesberg has emerged as one of the most dynamic and athletic players in Israel where he had a prolific career. Son of a Jewish father and a mother from Trinidad, he was able to acquire the Israeli passport which allowed him to play in Europe as a non-American. After spending a couple of seasons with Virginia, his first stop as professional was Maccabi Haifa.
In just his second year, Landesberg finished second in the Israeli league’s scorers ranking, averaging 20.7 points per game. That proved to be his passport for Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv. So, in 2012, Sylven Landesberg’s role changed. Despite being a great scorer, he had to sacrifice minutes and touches for the benefit of the team. Coming off the bench became common for the forward who won the Euroleague title without playing a single minute in 2014 final.
With coach David Blatt gone, Landesberg’s minutes increased and also his contribution for two years. He averaged almost 15 points in the Israeli League and he was one of Maccabi’s main offensive options. Still that was not enough.
And here’s when things start to get interesting again, with Landesberg’s decision to move to Madrid.
Seven years ago Estudiantes played their last continental game and now they are back in Europe thanks to the Basketball Champions League. That’s a long absence but it hasn’t been always like that. In 1992 Estudiantes, led by Rickie Winslow and John Pinone, played in the European Champions Cup Final Four after defeating, precisely, Maccabi Tel Aviv in playoffs.
Chandler Thompson, Shaun Vandiver, Rickie Winslow and Pinone. Estudiantes’ history is full of American names that really identified with the fans. That tradition has been lost over time as well as Estudiantes’ presence in Europe.
Maybe, convinced by former Maccabi players Nik Caner-Medley and Diamon Simpson, Landesberg accepted the Spanish offer. And now he has the opportunity to take Edwin Jackson‘s role in the team and be the main man after the Frenchman decided to sign in China.
Sylven Landesberg can take over that emblematic role of an American leading Estu in the old continent. He has the experience in the top level, he has won trophies and a great shooting touch.
He is leading his team in scoring in the Basketball Champions League with almost 18 points per game (19 in the Spanish ACB). Can Landesberg take Estudiantes to another level and compete for the title? It’s a prestigious goal…