After nine consecutive years of clinching multiple titles and individual milestones while coaching overseas, Israeli National Team head coach Arik Shivekhas momentarily retired from the European sidelines, focusing primarily on representing his blue-and-white nation in its 2013 Eurobasket qualifying campaign.
Despite winning various professional Dutch and Belgium League hardware, Shivek takes pride in his 2004 European Championship Silver medal with Israel's U20 national troops, more than anything.
"Call me patriotic, but of all the awards I collected throughout the years, that silver medal with those kids (still) means the world to me," Shivek said during a one-on-one sit-down at his office at the Israeli basketball federation headquarters in downtown Tel Aviv, Israel.
Shivek, a two time Israeli League Coach of the Year, led Hapoel Eilat, Galil Elyon, Hapoel Holon, Maccabi Raanana, Bnei Herzeliya, Maccabi Ramat Gan and Hapoel Tel-Aviv before opting out of the local hoops during the summer of 2003 for nearly a decade of coaching Euro-ball.
"I'm overly satisfied with the coaching career I've built abroad," he says. "Out of the nine years in which I led six different organization, only two seasons did I go title-less."
Shivek will continue to lead Israel's senior squad over the next two summers. He recently coached Belgium Mons-Hainaut and in spite of receiving an extension offer sheet, Shivek's mind was set on one goal -- developing Israeli youth.
In May 2012, Shivek appointed Hapoel Jerusalem's head coach Sharon Drucker to takeover the struggling U20 national team. Three months later, Drucker successfully met Shivek's expectations, leading the future Israeli stars back to the European Division A brackets.
"This was my goal from day one," Shivek noted. "We had a few national teams playing in the minor divisions and my objective was to rebuild the successful Israeli basketball tradition. Developing the youth requires a long process of coaching and training, and my vision is that all the national teams qualify for the Division A games," he added.
Shivek's brilliant basketball mind helped lead the modest Mons-Hainaut past the Brooklyn Nets' and Team USA's sensational point guard Deron Williamsand his Turkish lockout team Besiktash, en route to the Eurocup qualifying group stages. Shivek credits his coaching staff's intense scouting and players, containing Williams to just 7 points on 3-13 shooting.
"The series was amazing. After losing Game 1 in Turkey, people blew up my phone congratulating me. We came prepared for Game 2 and despite being down by 9 at intermission, which technically meant an 18 point deficit, we managed to claw our way back and win the series," Said Shivek.
With regards to Williams Shivek added, "We created defensive mismatches and traps Deron wasn't familiar with from his NBA days. We had defensive strategies he's never seen before. That series and coaching against such a superior athlete in Williams was definitely one of the highlights of my career."
Tomorrow, in the 2013 European Championship Qualifying games, Shivek's men will face its Goliath competitor on the road in Montenegro. The Israelis enjoy both a healthy roster and impressive 9-1 exhibition game record, including the immense addition of former ex-Gator and newly acquired Israeli citizen Alex Tyus.
Tyus' mellow personality and hard work ethic is precisely the type of boost Shivek needed. A player who feels comfortable with doing all the dirty work in cleaning the boards and setting multiple screens for others. Still, Tyus' contribution hasn't gone unnoticed as he clinched back-to-back exhibition tournament MVP honors.
"The teams we'll face in qualifying games have great inside presence and we'll need Alex's ability to control the boards. He's an amazing asset to our roster both on and off the court and I'm sure he will become of value," said the coach.
Armed with the Cleveland Cavaliers' Omri Casspi, Russian Kuban and Triumph playmakers Yogev Ohayon and Yuval Naimy, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Lior Eliyahuand Guy Pnini, dominant free agent guards Gal Mekeland Raviv Limonad, and veteran team captain Yotam Halperin, Shivek, who keeps his cards close to his chest, is pleased with how his team evolved and is ready to utilize the tricks up his sleeve.
Israel's Group A bracket includes Serbia, Montenegro, Iceland, Slovakia and Estonia.
Hapoel J-M and Hapoel Eilat complete the Semifinal picture - May 23, 2013
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Netanya - Hapoel J-M 68-79 (2-3)
The guests were tied at the half but managed to speed up in last two quarters eventually winning the game. It was a great shooting night for Hapoel Jerusalem especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 66.7 percentage. American players dominated the game. Josh Duncan (203-86) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists [read more]
The guests were tied at the half but managed to speed up in last two quarters eventually winning the game. It was a great shooting night for Hapoel Jerusalem especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 66.7 percentage. American players dominated the game. Josh Duncan (203-86) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. point guard Ronald Steele (187-86, college: Alabama, agency: SportsTalent) contributed with 15 points and 4 assists for the winners. Five Hapoel Jerusalem players scored in double figures. Power forward Marco Killingsworth (203-82, college: Indiana, agency: Avi Zilberman) answered with 21 points and 5 rebounds and guard Ramel Bradley (188-85) added 14 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for GreenTops Netanya. GreenTops Netanya's coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Top scorers: Hapoel J-M: J.Duncan 23+10reb+5ast, R.Steele 15+1reb+4ast, R.Limonad 14+4reb, S.Samuels 11+5reb, C.Fells 11+3reb+3ast, E.Kadir 3+1reb+1ast Netanya: M.Killingsworth 21+5reb, R.Bradley 14+5reb+3ast, Y.Orland 9+2ast, R.Morgan 9+8reb+2ast, E.Shulman 8+7ast, D.Washington 5+5reb+5ast
The hosts trailed by 1 point after first quarter, but they stormed back to get the 5-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 91-80. Hapoel Eilat shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 63.2 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Maccabi Rishon's players. American power forward Eli Holman (208-89, college: Detroit Mercy) orchestrated the victory by scoring 20 points and 8 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Larry O'Bannon (194-83, college: Louisville, agency: Interperformances) contributed with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Four Hapoel Eilat players scored in double figures. Jamaican-American power forward Adrian Uter (200-84, college: Hofstra) answered with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 12 rebounds and American forward Julian Wright (203-87, college: Kansas) added 17 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for Maccabi Rishon. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Top scorers: Hapoel Eilat: E.Holman 20+8reb+2ast, L.O'Bannon 15+7reb+6ast, S.Hopson 14+4reb+9ast, T.Younger 11+3reb, E.Skverer 9+1reb+3ast, J.Tillman 9+5reb Maccabi Rishon: A.Uter 25+12reb+2ast, J.Wright 17+9reb+2ast, A.Ben David 14+3ast, N.Hanochi 7+1reb+7ast, L.Jones 7+3reb, S.Dawson 6
The Israeli point guard, Yotam Halperin (193-SG-84), was one of the main reason that FC Bayern Muenchen won their first game in the German semifinal series vs. Brose Baskets Bamberg 98-85 and "stole" the home court advantage. Halperin played 30 minutes and finished with 15 points (4-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-4 FT), 3 assists & 4 rebounds. Halperin scored 11 points in the first half and was on the court in the 4th quarter when Bayern made their run to secure their victory [read more]
The Israeli point guard, Yotam Halperin (193-SG-84), was one of the main reason that FC Bayern Muenchen won their first game in the German semifinal series vs. Brose Baskets Bamberg 98-85 and "stole" the home court advantage. Halperin played 30 minutes and finished with 15 points (4-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-4 FT), 3 assists & 4 rebounds. Halperin scored 11 points in the first half and was on the court in the 4th quarter when Bayern made their run to secure their victory. The 2nd game in the series will be in Munich on May 26th.
Maccabi Tel Aviv wants to join the Power Forward of Hapoel Jerusalem, Josh Duncan.
The team wants to replace Nick Caner Medley and Josh Duncan is a good option for Tel Avivians.
Duncan scored 11.7 points this season and took 6.2 rebounds per game.
Duncan arrived from Maccabi Ashdod last summer to Hapoel Jerusalem and signed a two year contract.
Maccabi said: "We have not talked with Josh Duncan."
Should add that Pat Calathes may join the Team.
But the team wants more to sign Duncan [read more]
Maccabi Tel Aviv wants to join the Power Forward of Hapoel Jerusalem, Josh Duncan. The team wants to replace Nick Caner Medley and Josh Duncan is a good option for Tel Avivians. Duncan scored 11.7 points this season and took 6.2 rebounds per game. Duncan arrived from Maccabi Ashdod last summer to Hapoel Jerusalem and signed a two year contract. Maccabi said: "We have not talked with Josh Duncan." Should add that Pat Calathes may join the Team. But the team wants more to sign Duncan. Duncan (2:03, 27) can play in position 4 and 5 because he is a great player and tall. Season, Duncan scored 57.1% three and 84% FT.can also considered to be a quiet and modest player, as Maccabi like.
Maccabi T-A: took 1st place (8-2) in Group B of the Regular Season, took 3rd
place (8-6) in Group F of the Top16, lost to Real Madrid 0-3 in the
quarterfinals !!!
Galil Gilboa: took 1st place (6-2) in Group A of the First Stage, took 2nd
place (10-4) in Group C of the Second Stage, beat Levski (BUL) 87-79 in the
Final !!!
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