Elitzur Netanya were officially relegated to Israel’s National League despite beating 77-89 in their final home game of the season on Wednesday. The club said the win felt like “the saddest and most frustrating” of the year, because it was not enough to save them.
Club officials said the team tried to block out the relegation scenario and focus on the game. “It hurts. We had to play knowing this could happen, but we tried as much as possible to put it aside,” they said. “We managed to concentrate on the game, to give everything, but even though we wanted it and won, it was not enough.”
Netanya’s season was shaped by constant changes. The security situation disrupted the roster repeatedly, and the club used four coaches over the course of the year. Idan Avshalom started the season, followed by Greek coach Aris Lykogiannis, then Eli Rabbi, and finally assistant coach Ilan Amar, who took over for the last three games after the war break.
The club also brought in a new owner during the season, leading to a major financial upgrade and the arrival of experienced players, but those moves did not prevent relegation. Officials admitted that changing four coaches was “not good” and said some decisions probably should have been made earlier. They now want to rebuild from scratch, with plans for significant changes in the roster and staff and a desire to hire a senior head coach who can provide stability. Among the foreign players they may keep are Javonte McCoy, Diante Baldwin and Cameron Oliver. Otis Frazier has already signed with a team in Japan. Netanya’s final game will be an away match against Hapoel Galil Elyon, which secured survival on Wednesday.
