Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv secured first place in the league in the penultimate game of the regular season. The 93:82 win over Hapoel Jerusalem in the capital left a strong impression at the end of the game, without significant players like Quincy Acy, Elijah Bryant, Tyler Dorsey, John Dibartolomeo and Omri Casspi.
The first place in the league actually allows the senior rank to choose the Final Four location if and when you reach it, in addition to the possibility of coronation as a champion in case the games are stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the game, Giannis Sfairopoulos turned to talk to media at Arena and also answered questions about next season's roster.
"We are still playing and we are an Israeli team participating in the Israeli league. We played all season and we are in first place and focused on winning the championship", Sfairopoulos clarified. "If you negotiate with players now, it will not be good for the team's chemistry and our goal is to win the championship. A lot of European teams sign players, but we are the only team in the Euroleague that still plays."
"After the league is over we will talk to the players whose contracts have expired to try to keep them on our team", the coach replied when asked about future steps in terms of roster. "We already have 8 signed players and we had a very good season in the Euroleague. We'll check what positions we are missing, it might be a player, two or three. We are all working so that as soon as we finish the league we can complete the roster for next season".

"It was a tough game", acknowledged Scottie Wilbekin, who again excelled against Jerusalem with 23 points and 7 assists. "Actually every game is tough right now but we got the win and that's what matters". When asked how he explains such an impressive win with a missing roster, the guard replied: "I don't know, we are a Euroleague team and that sums it up. Playoff spirit? Yes. If we must be here, then we will try to win".
"Scottie is one of the best players in Europe and he proves it every time", Yovel Zoosman said of No. 1 in yellow&blue. "When he wants, no one in Europe can stop him. I don't usually guard him in practice but when I do I really enjoy it because it's very hard for players to defend against him. He can score from any situation and every little space you give him - that's why he's so good".
The first place in the league actually allows the senior rank to choose the Final Four location if and when you reach it, in addition to the possibility of coronation as a champion in case the games are stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the game, Giannis Sfairopoulos turned to talk to media at Arena and also answered questions about next season's roster.
"We are still playing and we are an Israeli team participating in the Israeli league. We played all season and we are in first place and focused on winning the championship", Sfairopoulos clarified. "If you negotiate with players now, it will not be good for the team's chemistry and our goal is to win the championship. A lot of European teams sign players, but we are the only team in the Euroleague that still plays."
"After the league is over we will talk to the players whose contracts have expired to try to keep them on our team", the coach replied when asked about future steps in terms of roster. "We already have 8 signed players and we had a very good season in the Euroleague. We'll check what positions we are missing, it might be a player, two or three. We are all working so that as soon as we finish the league we can complete the roster for next season".

"It was a tough game", acknowledged Scottie Wilbekin, who again excelled against Jerusalem with 23 points and 7 assists. "Actually every game is tough right now but we got the win and that's what matters". When asked how he explains such an impressive win with a missing roster, the guard replied: "I don't know, we are a Euroleague team and that sums it up. Playoff spirit? Yes. If we must be here, then we will try to win".
"Scottie is one of the best players in Europe and he proves it every time", Yovel Zoosman said of No. 1 in yellow&blue. "When he wants, no one in Europe can stop him. I don't usually guard him in practice but when I do I really enjoy it because it's very hard for players to defend against him. He can score from any situation and every little space you give him - that's why he's so good".