Eliyahu expects Tel Aviv crowd to give Israel X-factor

JERUSALEM (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Israel have been drawn into a tough and balanced FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Group B, but veteran leader Lior Eliyahu believes the home crowd in Tel Aviv will prove the X-factor to get the team into the knockout stage.

"On paper, this is a very tough group," Eliyahu said of the group which includes Georgia, Germany, Italy, Lithuania and Ukraine. "It is very hard to determine at this time which teams will qualify for the second phase because final rosters are far from being set. I expect a hard battle and think that all the teams will see themselves as potential qualifiers."

The group stage will see a re-match of the Round of 16 contest from FIBA EuroBasket 2015 between Israel and Italy. Still, Eliyahu, who scored 12 points in the 82-52 loss, does not think the game from 2015 will have a major impact on the encounter in Tel Aviv next summer.

"Italy have the possibility of putting up one of the best rosters in Europe. It will probably be tough for us to match their talent so we will have to bring ‘X factors’ in order to beat them. We've done it before and I hope we will be able to do it again," Eliyahu said.

The minimum goal for Israel, according to Eliyahu, is to advance from the first round.

"Obviously we want to qualify for the knockout stage as we did in the last EuroBasket. If we can go even further it would be great."

Israel have finished in the top eight in Europe once since 1983 as they lost to Spain in the Quarter-Finals and grabbed seventh place in 2003.

"Basketball in Europe has come along a great deal in the past 30 years. Its popularity has tremendous growth even today. The competition is fierce so I don't think we are underachieving," Eliyahu emphasised.  

One problem Israel may face is their lack of big men.

"Size has always been a weakness for us in the past, but I'm confident our coaching staff will prepare game plans that will minimize the disadvantage," he said. "We need to play with high energy, tonnes of aggressiveness and very smart basketball."

Eliyahu expects the team will get a great boost from the crowd at the Tel Aviv Arena.

"The fans are hyped and I'm sure this will increase the closer we get to the actual games. I'm positive the arena will be sold out for all of our games, and they will with no doubt be one of the X-factors we will need to use in order to move forward," the Hapoel Jerusalem forward said.

Eliyahu is even more excited because the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 games will be played in his hometown of Tel Aviv.

"It's going to be amazing. The atmosphere in the arena will be ecstatic and I can't wait," he said. "This is a good opportunity to invite basketball fans from all the countries in our group to come visit our wonderful country whilst enjoying the tournament and all that Tel Aviv has to offer. I can guarantee they will have the best time."

The fans are hyped and I'm sure this will increase the closer we get to the actual games. I'm positive the arena will be sold out for all of our games, and they will with no doubt be one of the X factors we will need to use in order to move forward." - Eliyahu

Eliyahu will turn 32 on the day off before the Round of 16 games. But the veteran of five EuroBaskets is not necessarily thinking about hanging up his national team sneakers just yet.

"I think we should take each tournament and national team assignment at a time. I see my service for the national team as a privilege and not a burden. So I'm keen on playing as long as I can contribute," said Eliyahu, who would be 35 when the next FIBA EuroBasket is played in 2021.  

FIBA