Maccabi Tel Aviv and ASVEL Villeurbanne tipoff in Euroleague action on Thursday night at Yad Eliyahu (21:05) and will look to keep the positive momentum rolling after downing Monaco 78-70 on Tuesday and sweep the first “Double Week” of the 2022/23 campaign.

There will be one very familiar player who will be going up against the Yellow & Blue as Retin Obasohan who starred for Hapoel Jerusalem last season now plies his trade for the French squad.

Just ahead of the game, Obasohan who was in attendance at his former team’s Champions League clash against Ludwigsburg just 24 hours before he takes to the Maccabi home court, spoke about his move to the Euroleague, playing his former teammate Jalen Adams and of course his return to the Holy Land.

“It’s a good feeing being back and it feels like I just left like I was just here. The atmosphere was great in the gym and the result wasn’t what we would like, coming here seeing the familiar faces, felt good.”

Obasoahan continued, “We have a big game on Thursday and it’s a Double Euroleague Week playing against a worthy opponent who had the biggest comeback win in their history against Monaco. They are full of confidence and playing good so we got to come in ready to play against them and the crowd that they will have.”

Earlier in the week, Villeurbanne were crushed by Fenerbahce 84-63 and will most defenitely look to rectify that when they ready to play Maccabi, “We have to bounce back more than anything. The way that we showed ourselves in the second half is not how we want to play. For us is starting with that and fixing that by playing tougher, playing according to our game plan and our style of play with the details and then we moved from there. It’s all about getting better. We all feel good and we all put in the work in the summer when we are called upon, whether it’s 5 minutes or 30 minutes. We have to be ready for when your number is called.”

Both Obasohan and Jalen Adams played for Hapoel Jerusalem last season and now very early on in the campaign the pair will be facing off against one another, “It feels like playing against my brother. We had a lot of battles practice and then together all of last season. I am happy for him and happy that he found a team and a great organization. So it will be trippy to be lining up against him but it will be fun and competitive. It’s all love between me and Jalen and I actually got more trash talk from the fans when I congratulated him than I did for Jalen.”

This is Obasohan’s first season in the Euroleague and so far his stats have been a modest 6.7 points and 2 assists, but the Belgian is learning how to walk the walk in the world’s seoane best league.

“I’m excited, happy to be here, happy to be competing taking everything as it goes and trying to out my best foot forward. But also assert myself playing a different style with new teammates. That’s the beauty of it. You take steps, you grow and try to adapt and that’s what I’m trying to do. As for Maccabi, I’m tired losing to these guys. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”