Galil Elyon Stays Up in Dramatic Finale, Players Honor the Late Raz Adam

Galil Elyon completed a dramatic escape from relegation on June 17, 2026, beating Nes Ziona 76-65 and benefiting from Raanana’s 89-77 loss to Netanya. The team sealed its place in the league after a season described as turbulent, difficult, emotional and sad, and the celebrations centered on the late Raz Adam, who had started the campaign’s work before his death.

Roei Prizki, who joined from Hapoel Jerusalem after Adam’s tragic death, said he was thinking about “the terrible disaster of Raz Adam.” He added that attending the funeral was “one of the most painful moments” he had recently experienced. “Personally, I am prouder than ever to come to Galil and finish what he started this year,” he said, calling it “very moving.” Prizki said he had known Adam for some time and spent a lot of time with him last year during rehabilitation. He also said he had not enjoyed basketball this much in years, had only arrived for a 10-day stint, and was surprised by the unique atmosphere in the north, including the nightly sirens, the calm, and the kindness of the people.

Prizki said he felt fortunate to help the team in a short window and called the moment “one of the top moments,” noting that no one expected the move to happen in mid-June. He said he had been given an arena tour less than a week earlier, had packed his apartment three different times because the transfer took so long, and was happy the crowd was excellent. On his future, he said sitting on the bench would have been “probably a waste,” but respected management’s decisions and said he did not know where his summer would go.

Coach Idan Avshalom called the outcome “amazing” and a source of pride for the whole community and club. He said the team had to absorb the entire story and that there were concerns about declining basketball attendance, but urged people to come to Galil Elyon because of its people and children. “We could not have lost with them,” he said, adding that “the karma was with us” because Adam’s story was too big. Avshalom thanked his staff, especially club icon Avishai Gordon, plus Oren Handelar, Lian, physiotherapists Liri, Tzach and Nikos, and the management that insisted the team stay at home. He said the staff gave him and the players confidence, and said he would celebrate before discussing next season.