By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv’s new guard, Theo Papaloukas, had this reaction to his signing a one-year contract with the team: “I’m very excited. No one knew anything about this, but it is a huge step for me. I wanted to remain at the top level of European basketball, and no place is more fitting than Maccabi. It’s always at the top. From the moment that Coach Blatt spoke to me, my determination just grew. I love Nokia Arena; it’s a great place to play and to be a part of the home team there is exciting.”
“Maccabi fans understand basketball, they have a basketball culture known throughout Europe, and it will be my pleasure to join in the yellow celebration. I can’t wait to see the crowds in the stands and I want everyone to know that I will give my all for Maccabi. I am eager to contribute to the success of the team. Sofo, of course, I know very well. He’s a great player and a wonderful guy, as you saw for yourselves last season. Coach Blatt and the people of Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv did a great job with him last season. He’s extremely talented and I will do everything I can to help him improve even more, but for me the most important thing is and always will be the success of the team. I am here for Maccabi.”
David Blatt gave his reaction to his newest player: “We have signed one of the best players and biggest winners in all of Europe. Theo is a team player and a leader with tremendous character and fantastic game smarts. He has a strong will to come to Israel and help lead and keep Maccabi among the top in Europe. Everyone is happy about his arrival. We know from his past and his present that he is a great player, the kind that makes those around him better. Every place he has been he contributed to the cohesiveness of his team.”
“The signing of Papaloukas will strengthen Sofo Schortsanitis’ connection to Maccabi; the two of them have had very successful partnerships over the years with Olympiacos and the Greek National Team in their glory days. We are also counting on Papaloukas to be a leader and role model for the young and talented Yogev Ohayon, to help him develop into the excellent point guard we want him to be.”
Club president Shimon Mizrahi said, “Papaloukas will bring to Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv an impressive dimension of experience, leadership, and success. In my conversation with him, I was impressed by his ambition and his strong will to come to Maccabi and to demonstrate his abilities to all of Europe. He is very determined to go as far as possible with us on every possible stage. It was possible to sense his excitement in his words.”
David Federman concluded: “We’re happy and excited, and we see it as an honor that a player such as Theo Papaloukas – a real personality – has chosen to come to us, to Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv. He wanted to come to us, and of course we were delighted; he adds tremendous motivation to the whole system.”