After more than two years the Euroleague returned to Tel Aviv as Maccabi hosted ASVEL Villeurbanne at Yad Eliyahu and downed the French club 92-84. The first game back in Israel provided plenty of excitement as Lonnie Walker (29 points) and Roman Sorkin (26 points) led the way for the yellow-and-blue scoring early and often as Oded Katash’s squad improved their record to 5-10 in continental competition.

The atmosphere outside around the arena was full of excitement as fans flocked to Yad Eliyahu, smiles and huge grins all around as the Maccabi faithful were thrilled to have the Euroleague back in their saddle. The supporters gathered around each yellow-and-blue players as they arrived from Tamir Blatt to Lonnie Walker for a selfie, autograph or a word of encouragement. When the opposition arrived via the Maccabi coach the fans cheered and thanked them for coming to the Holy Land and being the first team to tip-off back in Israel after more than two years of home games in Belgrade. The festival had begun despite the rain as everyone was ready to get the show on the road.

Nando de Colo was hot early hitting his shots from the inside and outside while Melvin Anjica also scored for ASVEL, Lonnie Walker also scored in bunches, Roman Sorkin added points as Jimmy Clark and Jaylen Hoard both put down a big dunks while Marcio Santos hit a looping jumper to give Maccabi a 21-19 lead after ten minutes of play.

Prior to the game inside the arena fans milled around picking up their favorite delicacy while others started to sing and cheered as drums played and the Maccabi playlist filled the corridors with overflowing joy. One fan after the next, greeting each other as if they hadn’t seen each other in those two plus years away from home. A parade of supporters jumped and danced their way all around the halls of Yad Eliyahu as everyone seemed to join in on the celebration, a celebration of life in essence, a rebirth of sorts and yet another step towards normalcy in a country that has been through hell and back.

Tamir Blatt and de Colo traded triples to begin the second quarter, Iffe Lundberg and John Dibartolomeo both drained one from deep while Walker put in a 3-point play and a dunk to go Jo by 14-points. But Glynn Watson and Zachary Seljaas went from downtown, Thomas Heurtel drilled in a pair from beyond the arc, de Colo added a 3-point play and Bodian Massa dunked to knot the game up at 47-47 at halftime.

As the time ticked off the clock for the players to warm up the fans took their seats with a massive amount of anticipation as there was over thirty minutes until the jump ball. But when the music began to blare and the Maccabi captain John Dibartolomeo led the team our to mid-court the fans burst out into a pandemonium that only one who was in the arena would understand. Each player was serenaded one-by-one as well as the head coach Oded Katash to the delight of the over 11,000 in attendance as goosebumps could be seen and felt throughout the hall.

Walker and Watson scored for their respective teams to start off the third period, Sorkin and Mbaye Ndiaye scored while Massa put down a pair of dunks, Watson went from deep, Hoard put in a deuce, while Seljaas and Blatt traded triples to end the quarter as Maccabi took a 69-65 lead into the fourth quarter.

When the Euroleague anthem played for the first time since October 5, 2023 when Maccabi beat Partizan Belgrade was met with even more thrills and chills and that went into overdrive when the PA Announcer Shai Sidi officially introduced all of the players with pomp and circumstance. However, the biggest cheer was saved for former hostage Omri Miran who spoke to the fans who kept screaming out “Omri, Omri, Omri” to their hearts delights which was followed up by Hatikva, the national anthem that everyone belted out at the top of their lungs in unison which didn’t leave a dry eye in the house.

Heurtel scored off the glass to get the final frame underway, Sorkin went from downtown, Ndiaye and Hoard traded baskets, Walker put in a deuce, Watson scored a pair of triples in response, Lundberg fed Sorkin for points in the paint, Watson again went from deep, Hoard and Heurtel scored, Walker added points and Hoard put down the hammer to close out the win.

As the game headed into the final minutes the crowd began to sense the victory was near and the chants began to get louder and louder as it reached a crescendo and fever pitch and the sings turned to the upcoming holiday of Hanukkah, the story of the Maccabis, a fitting way to end the first game back in Israel.