Erez Edelshtein: Our participation in the BIBL helps our player develop

Erez Edelshtein, the coach of Hapoel Tel Aviv, one of the Israeli participants in the EUROHOLD Balkan League spoke to Amir Fleischmann of eurobasket.com regarding his team′s performance so far in the season. Here is the interview with Hapoel Tel Aviv′s head coach.

Erez, Hapoel TelAviv is looking good so far. You are ranked 2nd in both national league and Balkan league (BIBL), and this week you defeated Galil Gilboa (Israeli premier league) in the Israeli Cup′s 1/8 finals. What is the club′s main goal for the 2011-2012 season?

The main goal of Hapoel Tel-Aviv is returning to the premier league, where it truly belongs. We hope that the experience gained by participating in competitions like the BIBL will help us get ready for the playoff games in April-May.

What were the reasons for participating in BIBL?

It was important to me that our young team would participate in two competitions, rather than just in one. Participating in BIBL assists us to get to know different game styles that could hardly be found in our local national league. The opponents are aggressive, less tactic-concerned, something that makes you adjust to different
intensity. It helps you develop yourself a player, and it certainly provides game-time for our youngsters. Apart from that, it is good and important for the club to be a part of an international competition, whatever that involves: competing abroad, hosting teams in Israel etc. After all, Hapoel Tel Aviv has great name and prestige in Europe and in Israel.

What is your impression of the team′s local players?

Most of the players are fit to play in the premier league, period. I regard Matan Naor, Corry Carr and Jonathan Skjoldebrand as legitimate premier league players. You saw their performance on Sunday (Hapoel Tel Aviv′s win over Galil/Gilboa).

With your considerable record and experience in the Israeli basketball, how come you decided to coach a club that is in the national league over one that′s in the premier league?

It is all because it′s Hapoel Tel Aviv, a club I love and appreciate. It doesn′t matter where they play. When they offered me to coach them I did not hesitate for a second, and with fans like ours, coaching here is an unbelievable experience and fun. You also must realize the outstanding reform the club has gone through both on court and with management (the club is run by a fan association), and it is clear to me that the ultimate place for such a club is nothing but the premier league.

Any plans to coach elsewhere in future, perhaps in Europe?

No, I am happy where I am and focus only in Hapoel Tel Aviv.