Despite a remarkable performance by Turk Telekom, which saw them eliminate Hapoel Jerusalem – the club with the highest budget in the competition – in the EuroCup quarter-finals, the Israeli team remains steadfast in its European aspirations. Turk Telekom is now set to face JL Bourg in the semi-finals.
Matan Adelson, owner and president of Hapoel Jerusalem, confirmed to Sport 5 that the goal of joining the EuroLeague next season remains unchanged, despite this disappointing defeat.
“At the start of this season, we had a perfectly clear objective: to win the EuroCup,” Adelson stated. “I was genuinely convinced that our team possessed all the qualities to be crowned champions. Our first-place finish in the group stage was no accident, but rather the result of intense hard work, total commitment, and solid mutual trust. It is therefore extremely difficult to accept this premature elimination in the quarter-finals. Nevertheless, our purpose is to reach the pinnacle of European basketball. Despite this setback this season, we continue to work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure Hapoel Jerusalem’s presence in the EuroLeague as early as next season. Our ambition is to participate in the EuroLeague, and we will achieve it as soon as possible.”
It is worth noting that Israel already has two teams in the EuroLeague (Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Hapoel Tel-Aviv), and these clubs have been forced to play their home games outside Israeli territory for several months due to the ongoing conflict.
