Gilboa/Galil enters bid to qualify for Euroleage

Team hopes to join Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europe's most prestigious basketball competition.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Gilboa Galil mekel 311 (photo credit: BSL)
Hapoel Gilboa Galil mekel 311
(photo credit: BSL)
Hapoel Gilboa/Galil will be aiming to join Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Euroleague regular season after deciding to become the first Israeli team to take part in the qualifiers of European basketball’s most prestigious competition.
Despite losing to Gilboa in the BSL title game, Maccabi’s place in the Euroleague group stage is guaranteed as it holds a long-term agreement with the competition organizers.
Gilboa was expected to forgo its place in the qualifiers due to the financial burden of playing in the Euroleague and the fact that it would have to host its games at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv.
However, club management decided to enroll for the qualifiers and on Wednesday Gilboa was named among the 16 teams which will play in the newly-expanded qualification rounds.
Just two of the 16 teams will progress to the regular season, meaning Gilboa will have to win three home-and-away ties.
A single defeat in any of the qualifying stages would send Gilboa into the Eurocup regular season.