Israel NT for Eurobasket 2009

[rikhardur]

Zvika Sherf's hopes of marching Israel directly into next summer's EuroBasket in Poland suffered a hit this week.



On Tuesday, the national team coach announced the 17 players he wanted at the final training camp that's scheduled to tip off on July 23, yet it's uncertain if two of the invitees - Dror Hagag and Lior Eliyahu - will show up.



So what's the problem with the 22-year-old Eliyahu, whose NBA draft rights are held by the Houston Rockets?



The 2.07 Eliyahu and Sherf spent the last year together at Maccabi Tel Aviv and had an unhappy relationship.



The veteran coach clashed with the talented forward several times and often used him on the court only if he had no other option, and sometimes not even then.



That very scenario, in fact, had existed at last summer's EuroBasket in Spain with the national team.



As a result, it appears Eliyahu has decided not to show up for the national team camp. Although he has not made an official announcement, those are the vibes the player is sending out.



Hagag's situation is different.



The 30-year-old point guard, who only recently signed a two-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv where Sherf has been replaced as coach by Effi Birenboim, made his summer plans official.



"I sent a letter to the federation explaining that I won't be able to show up for the camp for personal reasons," Hagag said to the Israeli media.



"It has nothing to do with coach Sherf. I would have announced the same even if there was another coach. I just need to stay in Israel his summer."



Hagag's decision was neither received well by the federation, nor accepted.



"We see a call for the national team the same way as we see a call for the army reserves," said Shai Shani, the new chairman of the federation.



"I can't imagine a situation in which a player was invited but won't show up."



The federation had allowed the initial 32 players named in the preliminary squad to announce until a few days ago if they planned to miss the upcoming campaign.



Several, such as Sharon Shason, Erez Markovic, David Bluthenthal and Jaime Arnold, took the opportunity to do so and thus weren't invited to the final camp where Israel will prepare for qualifying games against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic and Great Britain.



Israel's basketball fans will soon discover how the Hagag and Eliyahu situations are resolved.



Israel squad: Dror Hagag, Lior Eliyahu, Meir Tapiro, Moran Rot, Yogev Okhayon, Yotam Halperin, Tal Burstein, Raviv Limonad, Nitzan Khanokhi, Guy Pnini, Matan Naor, Omri Casspi, Yaniv Green, Ido Kozikaro, Amit Tamir, Chris Watson and Nir Cohen.

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