Hapoel Emek Signs Cuban Forward Carl Guzman Despite 2023 Romanian League Incident

Hapoel Emek announced on July 26, 2023, the signing of Cuban forward Carl Guzman for the upcoming basketball season. Guzman previously played for Cluj Napoca and faced Hapoel Jerusalem in the EuroCup, where he scored just over eight points against the Israeli team. However, Guzman is also known for a major incident in the Romanian league earlier in 2023. During a game between Cluj and Oradea, Guzman got into a confrontation with an opposing player that escalated into a physical fight on the court. He was ejected by the referees but instead of leaving the court, he took further action, turning the incident into a criminal matter. Guzman later stated that the incident did not reflect his personal values. Despite this controversy, Hapoel Emek decided to bring him on board for their roster this season.