Local Hoops: Mac TA, Arroyo take the court

By ROEE FARKASH
Short only the three Israeli national team players - Yaniv Green, Lior Elyahu and Omri Casspi, who were away preparing for Wednesday's game against the Czechs - Maccabi Tel Aviv officially kicked off their training for the 2008/09 season on Tuesday. Despite the presence many new faces on the squad, including newly appointed coach Effi Birenboim, D'or Fisher, Rodney White, and Jason Williams, most of the attention of the 400 excited spectators was focused on one of the biggest names to arrive on the scene of Israeli Basketball and Maccabi's most expensive player to date, Puerto Rican national captain and former Orlando Magic guard, Carlos Arroyo. Arroyo landed in Israel only one day earlier, on Monday, and rushed to get his physical exams Tuesday morning so that he could be present at the first practice. "I was amazed with the all the fans at my arrival in the airport yesterday," Arroyo greeted the noisy crowd in Hadar Yosef. "It feels great. I am always excited every time I wear the uniform and step on to the court. This is my greatest passion, and yet with it comes great responsibility. Maccabi is a big club with big tradition, and I feel as though I am ready for this challenge." Over the summer, Maccabi had released nearly half the squad that was part of last year's disastrous season which concluded with zero trophies domestic and internationally. The team parted ways with crowd favorites Nikola Vujcic and Yotam Halperin, who both seized the opportunity and signed with Greek giants Olympiakos. Disappointing guards Will Bynum, Vonteego Cummings, and Alex Garcia were also released. To be missed the most from last year's roster will be both star forward Terrence Morris, who upgraded his pay by signing with Euroleague Champions CSKA Moscow, and big man David Bluthental who transferred to French side Le Mans. Former head coach, Tzvika Sherf, was let go and fierce rival Birenboim, who had managed to defeat Maccabi in all three league encounters last season, was put in charge. "I feel as though we are in a mini-celebration," said the recently appointed-coach to his new fans. "This is the first practice with the fans. I've been around the scene for quite some time now, and I am very aware of the powerful support these fans carry. "I only hope that each and every one of my players is as excited as I am because that is what a professional athlete requires in order to motivate himself."