1) Hapoel Jerusalem and Hapoel Holon found out who there FIBA Basketball Champions League opponents will be for the 2018/19 season. The Reds were draw into a very attractive but difficult Group C which includes the competition’s defending champion AEK Athens from Greece as well as Euroleague veteran Brose Bamberg of Germany. CEZ Nymburk from the Czech Republic is coached by Israeli Oren Amiel, Eskisehir from Turkey, JDA Dijon of France, Montakit Fuenlabrada from Spain and a qualifier will round out the group.

Hapoel Holon’s Group B features a number of quality opponents including Iberostar Tenerife from Spain, PAOK of Greece, Italian side Umana Reyer Venezia who won the Europe Cup last season, Telekom Baskets Bonn from Germany, Opava of the Czech Republic and two qualifiers.

Hapoel Jerusalem Head Coach Oded Katash spoke about the draw, “It’s probably the most attractive group we could have gotten with two of favorites to win the tournament. This gives the fans a real basketball experience. On the other hand, this won’t be simple at all. The goal is to advance out of the group and to get to the latter stages of the tournament.”

2) Hapoel Tel Aviv will attempt to also qualify for the Champions League, however, their road to the group stages will be a challenge to say the least. In the first round the Reds will face Charleroi in a a two match series beginning at home on September 20 with the road game two days later. Should Hapoel advance to the second round, the winner of Leicester from England and Bakken Bears of Denmark will be waiting for them at home on September 25 and on the road on September 28. In the third round Hapoel should they advance will face Murcia from Spain at home on October 1 and on the road October 4.

Head Coach Danny Franco gave his thoughts on his team’s challenge ahead, “It will be a chapping to advance to the group stages. All of the teams are still building their squads for the upcoming season. In time we will do our scouting on Charleroi in the meantime we will continue to build the strongest Hapoel as possible.”

3) Maccabi Tel Aviv FC will play their first match of the season tomorrow at Ferencvaros in Budapest, Hungary. Ahead of the match, Head Coach Vladan Ivic spoke to the assembled media: “This is the first game of the season for both clubs. Maccabi is the biggest club in Israel and Ferencváros is the biggest club in Hungary. There are no favorites in a game like this.”

Midfielder Avi Rikan also looked ahead to tomorrow’s match: “We came here to win just just like any other match and we prepared well over the past month. The professional staff did a good job and we are coming into the game ready to go.”

4) NBA Summer League
Kendrick Ray of Maccabi Tel Aviv recorded a DNP for the Jazz.

Quick Hits – Corey Walden resigns with Hapoel Holon BC… Chris Dowe signed with Nes Ziona BC after playing last season in France with Élan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez…Jeremy Pargo extended his contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv BC…Maccabi Tel Aviv BC Assistant Coach Guy Goodes will be back for another season with the team…Maccabi Petah Tikva drew 0:0 with Bnei Lod in a preseason friendly…