Elitzur Ramla Aims for European Success in FIBA Europe Cup Qualifiers

Elitzur Ramla is set to begin its FIBA Europe Cup qualifying campaign against Greece's Proteas Voulas on Wednesday, aiming for a strong return in the 2025-26 season after a disappointing previous year. Due to the inability to host games in Israel, Ramla will play both legs of the tie in Greece, with the aggregate winner advancing to the group stage of Europe's second-tier club competition. The team has undergone a significant overhaul this summer, with key departures including captain Eden Rotberg, veteran naturalized player Jenni Simms, and most of last season's foreign players, along with Israeli talents Tamar Bargal and Mai Row, who went to college, and Mika Bitan, who moved to Bnei Yehuda.

The club has made a statement of intent by re-hiring coach Eden Inbar, who previously led Ramla to three championships and a historic EuroCup title in the 2010-11 season. Inbar expressed his excitement about returning to Ramla and the EuroCup, acknowledging the surprise of the early qualifying rounds but emphasizing the team's determination to succeed. He noted his satisfaction with the players' attitude and work ethic, believing it will translate into success this season. Inbar also highlighted the challenge of facing unfamiliar opponents in the qualifiers but expressed confidence in his team's quality to overcome the away-game disadvantage.

To bolster the squad, Inbar brought several key players from his former team, Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan, which had a successful 2024-25 season, winning the Winner Cup and the State Cup before being eliminated in the playoff semifinals. Among the new arrivals are Israeli stars Shir Tirosh, Alice Hatukai, and Gili Eisner, who will fill the void left by Rotberg and Simms. Imari Thomas, a forward who previously played for Hapoel Kfar Saba, also joins after averaging 17.2 points per game last season. Tirosh stated her ambition to develop further and compete in Europe, attracted by Ramla's rich history and Inbar's system.

Further strengthening the team are Israeli player Ami Rinat, who returned from college basketball in the US, and the highly anticipated signing of forward Danielle Raber. Raber, who led Ramla to its last championship, has since played professionally in Australia and became the fourth Israeli woman to play in the EuroLeague last season with Olympiacos, also excelling with the Israeli national team. The team also added American guard Mahreen Karcar and Montenegrin center Ana Popovic, who returns to Ramla after a 13-year absence and strong performances in Europe and China. The only significant player remaining from last season is Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan, who rejoined the club after leaving due to the war. Ramla reached the Round of 32 in the EuroCup last season, narrowly losing to Olympiacos.