Hapoel Jerusalem coach Guy Goodes is expecting his team's Eurocup group to be tight and tense, but admitted it could have been tougher.
Jerusalem was drawn on Friday into Eurocup Group C with Greece's Aris Thessaloniki, Croatia's KK Zadar and Lithuania's BC Siauliai.
The top two teams from each group will advance to a second group stage from which the top two finishers will progress to the quarterfinals.
"This is certainly not an easy draw," Goodes said. "All the teams in our group are good and dangerous. We could have even been handed a tougher group, but our group will be close and dramatic, with each of the four teams capable of advancing."
Hapoel hosts Siauliai at Malha Arena in its group opener on November 24, before facing Aris in Greece a week later. On December 8, Goodes's men play Zadar at Malha before travelling to Lithuania the following week. On January 5, Jerusalem will host Aris before wrapping-up its group games on January 12 at Zadar.
"We have been handed a very high level group, but all the team's in the competition are strong and we will have to deal with that," Hapoel guard Yuval Naimi said. "I believe in our team and I think we can challenge for a place in the next stage."
On Sunday, Jerusalem hosts Hapoel Galil/Gilboa in its first home game of the BSL season. Hapoel has got the season off to a dream start, claiming the Winner Cup before winning at Maccabi Rishon Lezion in its BSL opener and advancing to the Eurocup group stage with an aggregate victory over Roanne.
Galil also began the league with a victory, beating Ironi Ashkelon 72-57.
Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Ironi Nahariya on Sunday, looking to claim an easy victory and rebound from Thursday's disappointing Euroleague loss at Caja Laboral Vitoria.
Nahariya suffered a surprising 75-63 defeat to newly promoted Barak Netanya last week and will just be hoping to avoid humiliation at the Nokia Arena on Sunday.
Also Sunday, Netanya visits Ironi Ramat Gan, Hapoel Afula hosts Bnei Hasharon and Ironi Ashkelon welcomes Hapoel Holon.
On Monday, Maccabi Haifa faces Maccabi Rishon Lezion at Romema Arena.
