“This is our first serious test of the season,” says Lior Eliyahu.

By Amy Samin

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv took off for Greece this morning.
Forward Rodney White did not travel with the team; he has gone to the United States to be with his wife when she gives birth.

“Olympiacos is a very strong team, so this will be our first serious test of the season,” says Maccabi forward Lior Eliyahu, who doesn’t see the match-up against Yotam Halperin and Nikola Vujcic as a big deal.
“Just like we want to beat them, they want to beat us.
I wish Yotam the best of luck, except during our game against them.”

Veteran Maccabi player Tal Burstein sees the upcoming game with Olympiacos as being tough one.
“It’s hard to point out one or two things we can do to stop them.
They’re a very talented and experienced team.
A victory for us in Greece won’t be a sensation, but it won’t be easy, either.”

Head coach Efy Birenboim agrees.
“Olympiacos has set the bar very high, but our goal is to arrive safely in Greece, to come home safely, and in between, to win the game.”
Efy believes that Maccabi’s loss to Olympiacos at home a month ago, during the farewell game for Nikola Vujcic, is irrelevant.
“We have changed since then; they’ve changed a little as well.
It’s a whole new ball game.”

Point guard Carlos Arroyo: “We’re going to be playing against a great Greek team, but I really don’t care about their budget.”

samintranslations@yahoo.com

---