Hapoel Tel Aviv owner Ofer Yannay hopes the team can host EuroCup playoff games in Israel this season. He emphasized that Hapoel shouldn't be competing at the EuroCup level and is working towards securing a EuroLeague B-license for next season.
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv owner Ofer Yannay remains optimistic about the possibility of hosting EuroCup playoff games in Israel this season.
Speaking on the Pini & Friends at All-In podcast, Yannay acknowledged that securing approval to host next week's EuroCup quarterfinals in Tel Aviv might not be feasible.
However, he expressed confidence that the team could return to Israel for the semifinals.
"I don't think we'll have enough time to bring the games here for the quarterfinals, but I believe we can host the semifinals," he said.
"Danny Federman is also working hard on this. I nudged him a little to get him to start moving. He is in communication with my partner Gili Raanan and Matan Adelson [owner of Hapoel Jerusalem]," Yannay added.
Hapoel's owner also expressed his will to play in the EuroLeague next season.
He said the EuroCup is not the level they should be playing at and stated that he does not want to rely on winning the competition as a pathway to the EuroLeague.
"If I have to choose between winning the national championship and the EuroCup? I'm going for the national championship," Yannay stated.
"The EuroCup could get me to the EuroLeague, but in the worst way possible," Yannay said. "We're trying other ways, including getting a B license for a few years. I really hope we don't play in the EuroCup next season. This is not the level we should be playing at."
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