Israel national basketball team coach Ariel Beit-Halahmi said the squad has begun preparations for the upcoming World Cup qualifying window, with the goal of improving on the previous window’s results and moving closer to a place in the tournament. He said the team is dealing with a growing list of absentees for many reasons, adding, “There is nothing we can do about these absences. We will give those who are here the confidence they need.”
Beit-Halahmi singled out Beni Serur as an important addition, calling him “one of our strongest big men physically” and saying that was an area where Israel struggled in the last window. He said Serur would be evaluated in coming practices and hoped he would justify his call-up.
On Tomer Ginat, the coach said his condition is still unclear and that although Ginat will do everything possible, “it seems he is in big doubt.” Beit-Halahmi also referred to the playoff final series that is keeping players from Hapoel and Maccabi away, saying, “It is some kind of miracle that we are still playing basketball, but there is no point in crying about it. We hope it ends soon and we get them.”
Addressing the absence of NBA players, he said there was little the federation could do because they had joined whenever they were available before, but this time they were not released. He said he hoped they could be available again in the August window. Beit-Halahmi also paid tribute to Raz Adam, who died and was supposed to be present that day, saying, “It is a great loss. May he rest in peace.”
