Maccabi Tel Aviv are back in Israel. Those are the words that so many yellow-and-blue fans had wanted to hear for quite some time. While it wasn’t the entire squad that arrived back in the Holy Land for their Israeli league opener at Bnei Herzilya, the reigning champions certainly made their presence known early and often both on and off of the basketball court.

Whether it was dominating their game and winning 94-74 or welcoming many bereaved families or those who have been affected by the hostage situation for a special Chanukah practice at Yad Eliyahu, everyone was thrilled to have Israel’s Euroleague representative back to bring some light unto a difficult time.

Maccabi’s Sabras and head coach Oded Katash were no doubt happy to get back home after having been based in Belgrade over the past couple of months as well as the four foreigners who decided to make the trip all had huge smiles on their faces throughout the time that they were in Israel. As a club it was critical to return to the Israeli league and also show solidarity with the people of Israel who are suffering through these challenging times.

“The event that is happening here with the families is extraordinarily exciting,” Katash said. “That’s the message – we’re trying to get back to some kind of regular sports routine to try to maintain the status quo. But our thoughts are with those hostages who are in Gaza, they need to be brought home.”

Whether it was to see Roman Sorkin’s dunkfest and 17-year old Omer Mayer’s stellar performance in Herzliya to children who lost family members getting their shots over centers Josh Nebo and Jasiel Rivero in Tel Aviv these were the things that so many wanted to be a part of right now when the country needs it most.

“Maccabi is first and foremost a family,” Sorkin explained. “It’s a club that embraces its people and the country. It’s an honor for us to have the families here and it’s the least that we can do, it’s really a blessing. We thank them for coming and we are glad that maybe we helped a little bit somehow. It’s fun to play with them and see them smile a little bit.”

Ultimately that’s what athletes from all disciplines need to be doing during these trying times along with performing on the court as well which is what Maccabi did in fine style over Herzliya. Not only did the yellow-and-blue look like a team that has been together since August despite not having three integral players in Lorenzo Brown, Wade Baldwin and Bonzie Colson, three of Maccabi’s youngsters were able to contribute especially Mayer who played the game as if he was a ten-year veteran.

“The younger players got a chance to play and they are talented, we are happy that we won and now we have to look ahead to the next game,” Sorkin commented.

Other than Mayer who scored 9 points and added 3 assists and who has been with Maccabi in Belgrade as a regular member of the squad, Shachar Doron and Roi Bechar who are playing in the Leumit League and had been a part of the yellow-and-blue’s youth department up until this year also saw significant playing time and scored their first points in the top circuit.

This was something that warmed Katash’s heart to see, “There is no question that we will see these players in the future as they are all doing some wonderful things. I am enjoying it and happy that there are young players that can play at this level. It’s great to see guys coming up through the youth system and that can used right away with the senior team. It’s just incredible.”

Mayer played with the Israel Under-18 Team this past summer at the European Championships where he averaged 15.6 points per game and no doubt turned some heads as to his cool, calm and collectedness on the floor playing well beyond his years.

“My teammates have been really helping me over the past two months,” Mayer explained as to how he has been able to become a solid contributor at such a young age. “Every practice and every mistake that I may make, everyone is patient with me so I came into this Israeli league game without any pressure on me because I knew that the entire team is behind me and they are supporting me.”

Mayer identified who some of his strongest proponents have been and who have really been helpful to him as he matures, “the Israelis specifically, Tamir Blatt, Rafi Menco and Roman Sorkin as well as Jake Cohen, John Dibartolomeo and Josh Nebo, but I can really go over to every player as each one is helping me in different ways. Really everyone.”

Living in a foreign country like Serbia was not originally in the cards for Mayer but due to the war he has had to uproot himself just as every other player on Maccabi has, “It’s not easy and in general the entire situation is not simple for anyone. But I am really fortunate that I have teammates that are helping me.”

While Mayer will not be counted on to fill an important role in the Euroleague just yet, he will no doubt be a key component in the Israeli league this season after checking in with 23 minutes and understands that each time he’s on the court it’s an opportunity for him to show his wares especially right now that John Dibartolomeo has been out with a groin issue.

“I feel that it’s an opportunity for sure but I am here to do what the team needs me to do in order to win and to keep the flow. It’s an opportunity for me, but ultimately I am here for the team.”

As for Dibartolomeo’s availability for the upcoming three Euroleague games, Katash is unsafe if the naturalized Israeli will be able to partake in any action, “John D is a very important player for us and was extremely valuable to the team last season. We miss him a lot, he is the captain and brings a lot of things to the table for the Euroleague which we need. It won’t be this coming week, but I believe that within 10-14 days we will see him back in action.”

As for the guards that didn’t make the trip to Israel in Brown and Baldwin along with Colson, Katash is finding the situation very challenging to deal with, “There is a war going on in the country and players are concerned about coming. As a staff it has presented us with a challenge. It’s clear that the situation is not ideal as there are 3 players who are not practicing with the rest of the team right now and that is the biggest challenge in from of us.”

The bottom line is that despite the situation not being ideal, Maccabi has been doing the best that they can do both in terms of being competitive in the Euroleague with a 7-6 record and by returning to Israel for the domestic league.

At home, the yellow-and-blue can finally play in front of their supporters which is something that is not allowed in Belgrade as their “home” continental clashes are played behind closed and that is something which Mayer and his teammates hope will be in the distant past sooner rather than later.

“It’s great to play in front of the fans and we missed them a lot. We miss them in Belgrade and hopefully we will be home soon.”