Maccabi Ashdod Captain Robert Turner Ready for Challenging Season

Maccabi Ashdod, newly promoted to the Israeli Basketball Premier League after a six-year absence, officially kicks off its season Tuesday in the Winner Cup group stage against Hapoel Jerusalem. The team will be without Sean Dawson due to a leg injury. Despite this, optimism is high within the club, with the squad demonstrating strong professional cohesion and a palpable sense of unity during training.

Team captain Robert Turner, who was instrumental in the team's promotion with impressive averages of 24.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, expressed his honor and excitement about leading the team. He emphasized the club's primary goal is to remain in the league, stressing the importance of daily work, dedication in training, and building a strong team chemistry and family atmosphere.

Turner praised head coach Dan Kaczir, describing him as a coach players would go through walls for, and highlighted the mutual support between the coaching staff and players. He noted that the team shares the same mentality and aims to reflect the club's and coach's image this season.

The captain identified "family" as Maccabi Ashdod's X-factor, pointing to the existing bonds among players who have stayed with the team and the effort to integrate new members. He believes that strong camaraderie and cohesion, fostered both on and off the court, are crucial for success.

Looking ahead to facing EuroLeague and EuroCup teams, Turner acknowledged the challenge but affirmed the team's readiness. He stated that playing at the highest level is what they train for and that every player aspires to compete against the best, concluding that they are prepared for this journey, taking it one day and one step at a time.