George O'Brien
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There were reports that Jasikevicius outplayed Vujanic in the Euro finals. I don't know anything else about him, but I thought this might of interest.
Haaretz: Basketball / End of an era for Maccabi TA?
Basketball / End of an era for Maccabi TA?
By Eli Sahar
Only a day after Maccabi Tel Aviv was crowned Euroleague champion, speculation over the future of the current squad and in particular coach Pini Gershon is already mounting.
Maccabi's deputy chairman Moni Fanan said yesterday that he believed Gershon would remain for another season with the Euroleague champions, but within an hour board chairman David Federman had told Army Radio: "If I was Pini Gershon I would quit while I was at my peak."
Federman's comment underscored the shaky relations between the chairman and his coach.
"Relations between the two aren't good," said a source at the club. "Immediately after Gershon sent Sarunas Jasikevicius to the bench against Zalgiris Kaunas, Federman demanded from the board that it fire Gershon," the source added.
With Maccabi planning to cut its budget for next season from some $13 million to $10 million, Gershon won't be able to negotiate a higher salary. He may have to make way for his assistant, David Blatt, who coached Maccabi in the interim between its 2001 Suproleague triumph under Gershon and the current season.
A faction in the board would like to see Hapoel Jerusalem coach Sharon Drucker work under Blatt next season, but Drucker has a contract for another season with the ULEB Cup champions. Bnei Hasharon coach Ya'kov Gino has also been mentioned as a possible assistant to Blatt.
On the player front as well, Maccabi can expect a hot summer. Jasikevicius has a contract for another season, but has an exit clause allowing him to leave to the NBA. However the player's confidants have said that Jasikevicius has had enough of Israel and the local media's treatment of him, and would like to leave even if he doesn't get an NBA contract.
The club's captain, Gur Shelef, has also hinted lately that he is not happy with his current status at Maccabi. Shelef is believed to have told the club that he wants to leave, but last week he said he would stay on for another season.
However, Shelef will want to receive clarifications about his future before making any decisions. "Shelef is fed up with coming on as a quarterback," says one of the captain's confidants.
Yoav Saffar and Yotam Halperin aren't expected to stay with the club, although their future will depend on developments in the Israeli transfer market. Maccabi would like to strengthen their Israeli player base, with Hapoel Tel Aviv center Yaniv Green and Hapoel Jerusalem forward Ido Kozikaro likely targets. However both players have contractual obligations for another season with their present clubs.
University of California center Amit Tamir is another potential target for Maccabi if he isn't offered an NBA contract, and Bnei Hasharon playmaker Meir Tapiro is also an option.
Haaretz: Basketball / End of an era for Maccabi TA?
Basketball / End of an era for Maccabi TA?
By Eli Sahar
Only a day after Maccabi Tel Aviv was crowned Euroleague champion, speculation over the future of the current squad and in particular coach Pini Gershon is already mounting.
Maccabi's deputy chairman Moni Fanan said yesterday that he believed Gershon would remain for another season with the Euroleague champions, but within an hour board chairman David Federman had told Army Radio: "If I was Pini Gershon I would quit while I was at my peak."
Federman's comment underscored the shaky relations between the chairman and his coach.
"Relations between the two aren't good," said a source at the club. "Immediately after Gershon sent Sarunas Jasikevicius to the bench against Zalgiris Kaunas, Federman demanded from the board that it fire Gershon," the source added.
With Maccabi planning to cut its budget for next season from some $13 million to $10 million, Gershon won't be able to negotiate a higher salary. He may have to make way for his assistant, David Blatt, who coached Maccabi in the interim between its 2001 Suproleague triumph under Gershon and the current season.
A faction in the board would like to see Hapoel Jerusalem coach Sharon Drucker work under Blatt next season, but Drucker has a contract for another season with the ULEB Cup champions. Bnei Hasharon coach Ya'kov Gino has also been mentioned as a possible assistant to Blatt.
On the player front as well, Maccabi can expect a hot summer. Jasikevicius has a contract for another season, but has an exit clause allowing him to leave to the NBA. However the player's confidants have said that Jasikevicius has had enough of Israel and the local media's treatment of him, and would like to leave even if he doesn't get an NBA contract.
The club's captain, Gur Shelef, has also hinted lately that he is not happy with his current status at Maccabi. Shelef is believed to have told the club that he wants to leave, but last week he said he would stay on for another season.
However, Shelef will want to receive clarifications about his future before making any decisions. "Shelef is fed up with coming on as a quarterback," says one of the captain's confidants.
Yoav Saffar and Yotam Halperin aren't expected to stay with the club, although their future will depend on developments in the Israeli transfer market. Maccabi would like to strengthen their Israeli player base, with Hapoel Tel Aviv center Yaniv Green and Hapoel Jerusalem forward Ido Kozikaro likely targets. However both players have contractual obligations for another season with their present clubs.
University of California center Amit Tamir is another potential target for Maccabi if he isn't offered an NBA contract, and Bnei Hasharon playmaker Meir Tapiro is also an option.
