The schedule of games for the 2011 – 2012 Lotto League season was set at a gala event held at the Port of Tel Aviv on Sunday night. Katash and Hapoel Jerusalem will come to Nokia during week 6, Pini and Holon during week 8.
By Amy Samin
The Lotto League Administration hosted a gala event Sunday night to set the schedule for the 2011 – 2012 basketball season. As was decided before the event, Israeli champions Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv will play the season opener in Gan Ner Arena against finalists Gilboa Galil. During week 6, Maccabi will host arch-rivals Hapoel Jerusalem at Nokia Arena, while week 8 will find Pini Gershon and Hapoel Holon on Maccabi’s home court.
Club chairman Shimon Mizrahi represented Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv at the event, along with another of the club owners David Federman, general manager Eli Drikes, assistant coaches Guy Goodes and Derrick Sharp, and newly-acquired player Jordan Farmar. Sharp, who this summer announced his retirement from playing and his new position as assistant coach, was honored by the League Administration with a special appreciation award and a clip prepared by the players and staff of the Israeli National Team.
The award was presented to Derrick by Mizrahi and by Pini Gershon, who told those at the gathering, “I don’t know where I would be today without Derrick Sharp.” Mizrahi said, “Derrick is the embodiment of the players who came to Israel and became more Israeli than any other Israeli. You’re starting a new path; may you enjoy much success.”
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv’s other assistant coach, Guy Goodes, said, “It’s always exciting to see the new players coming to the team. Every year we’re expected to bring results. We’ll try to replicate last season. A player like Farmar comes here, one of the great players, one you see in the highlight films, one who has practiced with all of the giants, it’s exciting. It’s too bad that Casspi and Yotam [Halperin] won’t be joining Maccabi after all, because they are top-level players. We need to change direction and look for someone to take Pargo’s place. This year won’t be easy; we’ll be under a lot of physical and mental pressure.”
