By Amy Samin
Just before Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv took the floor for their semi-final game against Barak Netanya, the Israeli League Administration held a ceremony honoring the outstanding players of the season, including the Top Five Players and others.
The Top Five Players of the Season were: Guy Pnini of Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, Elishay Kadir and Brian Randle of Gilboa/Galil, and Shmulik Brener and Danilo Pinnock of Barak Netanya.
The Defensive Player of the Year was Maccabi’s own Doron Perkins, Pooh Jeter of Hapoel Jerusalem was named the best Sixth Player, the Discovery of the Season was Dory Assaf of Bnei Hasharon, the King of the Baskets was Justin Dentmon of Afula, the King of the Rebounds was John Thomas of Hapoel Holon, and the King of the Assists was Meir Tapiro of Rishon Lezion.
In addition, ten men were named Players of the Decade in a ceremony held during the halftime of Maccabi’s game.
Maccabi was represented by seven of those ten: Derrick Sharp, Yaniv Green, Gur Shelef, Tal Burstein, Lior Eliyahu, Yotam Halperin and Omri Casspi.
All of them played most if not all of their games of this decade with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
In addition, Meir Tapiro, Doron Sheffer and Ido Kozikaro were named to the Top Ten Players of the Decade.