Hapoel Tel Aviv Begins EuroLeague Preparations in Sofia Ahead of September Return to Israel

Hapoel Tel Aviv started its training camp for the upcoming EuroLeague season on Saturday in Sofia, Bulgaria, continuing the approach from last year of preparing outside Israel despite initial plans to return due to security concerns. The team is training without Israeli national team players who are competing in World Cup qualifiers, as well as a few others who will join later. The club will conduct nearly all its preseason preparations abroad, beginning with two friendly matches against Balkan Botevgrad, a EuroCup participant, followed by two more friendlies in Belgrade. The preseason will conclude with a tournament in Cagliari, Italy, during the Jewish New Year.

After the tournament, Hapoel will return to Israel for the Super Cup match against Maccabi Tel Aviv on September 17. A media day for the Israeli Premier League will follow, after which the team will head back to Bulgaria to finalize preparations for the EuroLeague opener against Bayern Munich on September 24. Currently, players Kadyn Carrington, Itay Segev, Guy Peltin, and Tamir Blatt are absent due to national team duties or other reasons, with Blatt unlikely to join training soon as he seeks a loan to another club.

Tomer Ginat, released from the national team due to injury, is training with Hapoel in Bulgaria but may return to Israel soon for rehabilitation. He is not expected to be fit for the Super Cup or EuroLeague start but is anticipated to be ready for the Israeli league season opener. New signing Jacob Topin has joined training and is expected to arrive in Israel by mid-September. The club is working to complete his paperwork for Israeli citizenship so he can participate in the Super Cup match.