EuroLeague Ninth Round Features Historical Matchup in Sarajevo
Historical Matchup
The EuroLeague’s ninth round continues this Thursday with a historic encounter between a team from the Persian Gulf and an Israeli team, as Dubai BC hosts Hapoel Tel Aviv in the capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo. This match was relocated to a Muslim-majority country due to pressure from governmental figures in Dubai concerned about protests that could jeopardize the region’s image. The game is being held behind closed doors following a decision by the Bosnian polstart to prevent demonstrators from entering the arena, who are protesting the hosting of the Israeli team.
Controversial Protests
A seemingly innocuous tweet from the EuroCup champions has sparked controversy in Bosnia, attributed to their refusal to display the country’s flag due to its colors, along with the bus that transported them from the airport. This has intensified the scrutiny and response to the match.
Team Updates and Player Absences
On the professional side, Hapoel Tel Aviv will be without Tomer Ginat, who is sidelined with a shoulder tear and is expected to return only after the national team break. This absence opens a spot for a new Israeli player on Dimitris Itoudis’s roster. The two players registered are Guy Pnini and Bar Timor, who have collectively played only 32 seconds this season.
The record for the shortest participation by an Israeli player belongs to Maccabi Tel Aviv, who notably fielded Yiftach Ziv for just six seconds in an October 2021 victory over Villeurbanne.
Hapoel Tel Aviv is acutely aware that a victory tonight would reinvigorate their campaign for the top position, setting them in competition with Red Star Belgrade, currently the hottest team in the EuroLeague with a 2-7 record.
Dubai BC’s Challenges
Conversely, Dubai BC has been hoping to recover from a challenging period and is optimistic about the medical updates of injured players Alexa Abramovic and Dejan Musa, who are expected to return soon. However, their leading center, Mfindo Kabengele, is injured and will not be participating.
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