One of the great things about sports is when a player has the opportunity to return to one of their former stomping grounds to show their wares to their previous and current clubs and it’s especially notable when the player has been having a rough time breaking into their new team even if it’s in the middle of season two. This is exactly what we got up north at Gan Ner when Maccabi Tel Aviv guard Iftach Ziv arrived to play his most recent club Hapoel Gilboa Galil and lead them to a 77-60 victory.
Ziv, who is going through a season of trials and tribulations this year, earned plenty of accolades during his two seasons in the Galilee, including taking Gilboa to the final four in 2020 and winning the “Corona Season” MVP. That year his team fell to Maccabi Tel Aviv 81-78 in the semifinal and in 2021, Ziv guided the squad to a decisive game 3 in the finals where they lost once again to the yellow-and-blue. His final season in the north saw Ziv score 12.3 points, grab 4.9 rebounds and dish out 4.3 assists in close to 27 minutes per game, so it was only natural that Ziv would take the next step to Maccabi Tel Aviv itself the following year, but it’s been a struggle ever since.

Iftach Ziv – Photo Credit: Yehuda Halickman
Last season under head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos and then interim bench boss Avi Even, Ziv never was able to find his rhythm. In the Israeli domestic competition, the Haifa native played 19.6 minutes, scored 7 points, took down 3 rebounds and recorded 3.2 assists and in the Euroleague he checked in with 2.1 points in 8 minutes over the course of 21 games.
This campaign under Oded Katash, Ziv’s time has taken yet another nose dive in both leagues and has barely played in the Euroleague having only seen time in one game prior to last week’s contest at Bologna.
There had been rumors swirling that Ziv wants to find a new home where he could once again play a role, which of course makes plenty of sense. But it was reported that Maccabi would not release him to Hapoel Jerusalem who is desperately looking for a guard, especially one of the Israeli variety after Noam Dovrat went down with a season ending knee injury. In fact, it seems the yellow-and-blue have zero interest in seeing Ziv play anywhere else other than with Maccabi.

Iftach Ziv – Photo Credit: The Sports Rabbi
A couple of weeks ago, Ziv was the MVP in Katash’s win at Hapoel Beer Sheva with 19 points, then Ziv did not dress in two straight Euroleague games which included a game at Milano where he was standing off to the side and not in a very good mood to say the least. But Katash played him a click over 7 minutes at Bologna where he had a pair of rebounds and an assist and then went back to him at his former home in Gilboa and was rewarded for his trust and faith in the guard when it seemed like he had none.
With 12 points, Ziv was not only second on the team behind Josh Nebo who had 15 points and earned high praise from the coach and teammates or being there, being ready and being a true professional. “I’m very happy that Iftach had a good game and gave us good minutes in Bologna,” Katash said. “Perhaps I should have used him more. I’m very happy for him especially for his play and I am happy that he was able to play well, It’s not something simple to be able to do and you need to have a very strong character.”
“There have been a number of players who have gone through this type of situation whether it is Austin Hollins, Darrun Hilliard and Jake Cohen, they have all gone through this. But a player needs to understand that this is what needs to be done if you are going to be a Euroleague player. Iftach is a professional and we need him now with the injury to Wade. I’m very happy with his performance.”

Iftach Ziv – Photo Credit: Yehuda Halickman
Nebo who paced Maccabi in the tough win over Gilboa may have had plenty of dunks, but the one by Ziv trumped that by a long shot and the big man knew it, along with also understanding what the guard is going through.
“I feel like he played great versus his old team. He is important to our team with energy and being a playmaker. It has been up and down for him, but I feel like he brings good attitude and he works hard in practice. It’s a long season and everyone will get their chance.”
Ziv also spoke about how he has been handling the situation as well as what he felt was the key to victory over his former club.

Iftach Ziv – Photo Credit: Yehuda Halickman
“I come ready for every game and wait for my chance. I do my best when I play and I’m happy when I play. Every player wants to play. As a team we put an emphasis to come more ready on defense as we all know defense wins games.” But what was clear above all is that Ziv had a certain comfort level playing in an arena where he had much success and where he felt the love of the fans.
While those same fans who cheered him on during his two year run with the club did not excatly welcome him back with open arms, it didn’t make that much of a difference to him. “This place gave me good energy. I love this place. Everything worked out well in the second half and I’m happy we won and I’m looking forward to see what is next.”
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