Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas discussed a wide range of topics during an interview with S Sport, including but not limited to the decision for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to play all of its upcoming home games at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Serbia's capital, Belgrade. There were also questions about the present and the future of Euroleague Basketball with the competition's TV rights-holder in the second part of this interview, which was recorded after the Euroleague Commercial Assets' shareholders meeting held on October 24 in Istanbul, Turkiye.

 

You can watch the full interview [HERE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnmwmarfGzw).

Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas.

S Sport's full interview with Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas

Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas spoke to S Sport after the Euroleague Commercial Assets' shareholders meeting held on October 24, in Istanbul, about the decision for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to play all of its upcoming home games at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Serbia's capital, Belgrade. You can see the video [HERE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KxeLzJ37yU).

S Sport interview with Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas

In a meeting held in Istanbul, Turkiye, on October 24, the Euroleague Commercial Assets' shareholders have agreed that Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will play all of its upcoming home games at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Serbia's capital, Belgrade.

 Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to play its EuroLeague home games in Belgrade, Serbia 

In a meeting held in Istanbul, Turkiye, on October 24, the Euroleague Commercial Assets' shareholders have agreed that Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will play all of its upcoming home games at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Serbia's capital, Belgrade.

Maccabi will play its first home game there against FC Bayern Munich on November 9. Maccabi's Round 6 meeting with Real Madrid, which was originally scheduled for November 2, is suspended and will be played at a later date.

This decision has been taken considering the impossible nature of hosting games in Tel Aviv due to security concerns derived from the ongoing armed conflict in the area.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has received the support of the Belgrade Municipality and the Serbian Government and will engage in conversations to plan the necessary security measures that protect the integrity of all individuals, which remains the ultimate priority for Euroleague Basketball and its clubs. Said security measures will be presented to the Euroleague Basketball office and the rest of the teams for review.

Euroleague Basketball (EB) has requested Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv to present an alternative arena located out of Israel to host its upcoming BKT EuroCup home games.

EB will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation, staying in contact with all related parties, and will announce any modifications regarding the above decisions if necessary.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to play its EuroLeague home games in Belgrade, Serbia 

Euroleague Basketball expresses its condolences to the family of Spanish basketball upon learning of the passing of Jorge Guillen, the long-time team doctor of Joventut Badalona.

Born on 1937, Guillen was linked to basketball since his youth, developing a professional playing career in several teams – Iberia Zaragoza, Aismalibar Montcada and Águilas Bilbao, among others – and playing 13 games with the Spanish national team, including one Olympic Games participation.

After his retirement as a basketball player in 1967, he became the official team doctor of Joventut Badalona for more than 45 years, helping the team lift its first-ever Euroleague title (1994), two Korac Cups (1981 and 1990), and one ULEB Cup (2008).

Jorge Guillen devoted his whole life to sports medicine, also serving as team doctor for the Spanish national basketball team, Spanish national football  federation, the Olympic Committee and the UEFA Doping Committee. Among many other recognitions, he was inducted last year into the Spanish Basketball Hall of fame.

Euroleague Basketball mourns Jorge Guillen

The order of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup Round 3 games involving Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv have been switched.

The BKT EuroCup [Regular Season Round 3 game between Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv-wolves-vilnius/U2023/13/), scheduled for October 17, will be played in Venice instead of Tel Aviv while Round 12 game will be played in Tel Aviv.

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague [Regular Season Round 3 game between Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv-valencia-basket/E2023/26/), scheduled for October 18, will be played in Valencia instead of Tel Aviv while Round 32 game will be played in Tel Aviv

This decision has been taken following the terror attacks and onset of armed conflict in Israel.

Order of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Umana Reyer Venice and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Valencia Basket switched

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Wolves Vilnius, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv Round 2 game suspended

The BKT EuroCup Regular Season Round 2 game between Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and Wolves Vilnius, which was scheduled to be played on October 11, and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 2 game between EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, scheduled for October 12, have been suspended following the terror attacks and onset of armed conflict in Israel.

Euroleague Basketball is monitoring the situation and will evaluate with the affected teams the best possible options to reschedule the games based on available dates. Further information will be released when available.

Euroleague Basketball reiterates its firm commitment against all acts of violence and in favor of peace, and will continue to use its voice to promote respect, inclusion and diversity, values that sit at the core of the organization and its teams.

Euroleague Basketball wishes to express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by the ongoing tragedy.

Hapoel-Wolves, Milan-Maccabi Round 2 games suspended

EuroLeague Basketball and Panini America, a subsidiary of the Panini Group, global leader in trading cards and collectibles reaching 150 countries and territories, announced a multi-year landmark partnership that makes Panini the Official Trading Card partner of the EuroLeague and will bring basketball fans an unparalleled collectible experience. This collaboration, set to revolutionize the world of sports card collecting, will see the creation of an exclusive Turkish Airlines EuroLeague card collection, offering fans a chance to connect with their favorite athletes in a whole new way.

Euroleague Basketball, Panini America sign multi-year trading card partnership

### Turkish Airlines EuroLeague collection to launch first with Panini Instant beginning in October

EuroLeague Basketball and Panini America, a subsidiary of the Panini Group, global leader in trading cards and collectibles reaching 150 countries and territories, announced a multi-year landmark partnership that makes Panini the Official Trading Card partner of the EuroLeague and will bring basketball fans an unparalleled collectible experience. This collaboration, set to revolutionize the world of sports card collecting, will see the creation of an exclusive Turkish Airlines EuroLeague card collection, offering fans a chance to connect with their favorite athletes in a whole new way.

The first EuroLeague trading cards will launch via Panini’s real-time Panini Instant product to celebrate the key EuroLeague performances as they happen. Basketball fans can look forward to stunning card designs featuring the best EuroLeague players, showcasing their skills, athleticism, and passion for the game across four of Panini’s most popular brands, beginning with Panini Instant and followed by  Donruss EuroLeague, Prizm EuroLeague and Crown Royale EuroLeague. The collections will include a range of limited-edition cards, making each card a unique and valuable item for collectors, including autographed cards, memorabilia cards, and rare inserts. Donruss will feature compelling action photography and the popular Downtown! insert; Prizm, meanwhile, will deliver its trademark arsenal of Prizm parallels and the spectacular Color Blast chase before introducing the Crown Royale brand. 

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague collection will be available globally on Panini’s official website.

"We are excited to partner with Panini, a company known for its commitment to quality and innovation.” said, Paulius Motiejunas, Euroleague Basketball CEO . “This collaboration will allow us to bring the passion of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague to collectors and fans representing an incredible opportunity for us to build iconic products that will captivate audiences globally and boost the engagement with the EuroLeague fans."

“We look forward to working with the EuroLeague to showcase its players and deliver some of our most popular trading card brands to EuroLeague fans – giving them something special to collect that features their favorite teams and players,” said Mark Warsop, CEO of Panini America.

Euroleague Basketball and Panini America sign multi-year trading card partnership

The annual EuroLeague ELPA Player Representatives Meeting took place in Barcelona on Thursday, bringing one player from each Turkish Airlines EuroLeague club together with Euroleague Basketball executives to discuss relevant issues ahead of the new season. Held at Euroleague Basketball headquarters, the meeting offered an opportunity to show players the direction the competition is heading for in the 2023-24 season and beyond.

ELPA player representatives meet with Euroleague Basketball executives

The annual EuroLeague ELPA Player Representatives Meeting took place in Barcelona on Thursday, bringing one player from each Turkish Airlines EuroLeague club together with Euroleague Basketball executives to discuss relevant issues ahead of the new season. Held at Euroleague Basketball headquarters, the meeting offered an opportunity to show players the direction the competition is heading for in the 2023-24 season and beyond.

Euroleague Basketball President Dejan Bodiroga was the first person to take the floor, welcoming everyone to the meeting.

"It is no secret that last season was one to remember," Bodiroga said. "More fans than ever filled our arenas, more eyeballs than ever watched our games and the content around them on television and digital platforms. On the court, you delivered a top-class experience with what was arguably the most competitive season in EuroLeague history.

"We want to listen to all your ideas and thoughts. We want to help you about any doubt you may have and we want to support you with your initiatives, because players are the true protagonists of the game and your opinion matters. I wish you all a successful and healthy season."

Euroleague Basketball sports director Ibrahim Erkan addressed players about the biggest change in the competition system: the Play-in Tournament, set to take place after the regular season and before the playoffs. He also talked about calendar rules and how double rounds are set to avoid games on consecutive days, among other restrictions.

It was the first meeting of this kind for new Officiating Director Daniel Hierrezuelo, who introduced a couple of new features to help players before and during the season. A number of referees will meet with all EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup teams before the season starts to make sure everyone is in the same page. Another new feature is that referees and team captains will briefly meet on the court before each and every EuroLeague game. In those meetings, questions about rules and any other pertinent information may be covered, and players will be reminded to play within the spirit of the rules and with appropriate sportsmanlike behavior.

"Probably some of you are happy because you are not meeting me on the court, but this is understandable," Hierrezuelo, who recently retired from refereeing, joked in his presentation. "I just arrived three months ago but I will put all of my effort to teaching my partners in a good way to help you, on and off the court. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any problems of any kind."

The players received a breakdown of the competition's fan engagement through television, social media and digital avenues, showing where the largest and most active fan bases are, and in which countries' TV audience and online viewers are growing. This was followed by a presentation on how fan growth and interest in the EuroLeague has developed in the last five seasons, with all-time records being broken in attendance and social media hits.

Also discussed was how EuroLeague is making an effort to put players in the forefront, offering a high-quality platform to promote them. A Quarter with Kyle Hines and The Player's View with Jake Cohen and Michael Roll were some of the examples. Cohen and Hines were present in the meeting, representing Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, respectively.

"I think Euroleague has done a great job of doing this and including the players and making the players feel like their voices are able to be heard," Hines said. "The meeting with the referees is very important because we are all on the court at the same time. So I think the relationship that we have with each other, it will help improve the game, help improve the overall performance of the game, the appearance of the game. So it's very important that we are able to establish this connection with the referees."

Euroleague Basketball also wanted to emphasize and reinforce its commitment to maintain the integrity of its competitions, and gave players instructions on what to do if they suspect integrity is being compromised.

"I have been to a few of these \[meetings\] now and it's great to see the progress that the league has made, and I think it's because of the cooperation of all the people involved," Cohen said. "I think it's a big reason why the EuroLeague has progressed the last few years; the participation, the cooperation of all the parties involved, between the league, the teams, the players and the fans. When we all get together try to work for something better, it's great what we can do."

Euroleague Basketball and sportal.gr, an innovative and fast-growing Greek digital sports media portal, have entered into a media partnership.

Sportal. gr becomes the official media partner of Euroleague basketball in Greece

**Visit [Sportal's EuroLeague section](https://www.sportal.gr/basket/euroleague) to get the best information of Euroleague Basketball in Greek.**

Euroleague Basketball and [sportal.gr](http://sportal.gr), an innovative and fast-growing Greek digital sports media portal, have entered into a media partnership.

Starting today, [Sportal.gr](http://Sportal.gr) will become the official online destination for all Euroleague Basketball fans. This collaboration will enhance the fan experience and provide Euroleague Basketball with an unparalleled level of coverage over the next two exciting seasons.

As part of its partnership with Euroleague Basketball, [sportal.gr](http://sportal.gr) will launch an exclusive section on its website dedicated exclusively to Euroleague Basketball, serving as a one-stop shop for all basketball fans. This special section promises a range of captivating content, including video highlights, breaking news, comprehensive articles, interactive polls, exciting contests, real-time live stats, up-to-date results, league tables, an extensive photo gallery, plus other exciting features.

The coverage of [sportal.gr](http://sportal.gr) includes all participating teams of the most important European basketball competitions – the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (Olympiacos Piraeus, Panathinaikos Athens) and the BKT Eurocup (Aris MideaThessaloniki) – and offers a comprehensive perspective on both competitions to satisfy the hunger of basketball fans for high-quality content.

The impact of [sportal.gr](http://sportal.gr) extends even further beyond Greece, as [sportal.gr](http://sportal.gr) is an integral part of the Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG), which brings together nine national leaders in digital sports media, combining their collective expertise with global technology solutions. Presently, this includes Sportal Media Group in Bulgaria, comprising [sportal.bg](http://sportal.bg) and Sportal365; Gazeta Sporturilor and [gsp.ro](http://gsp.ro) in Romania; [sportal.rs](http://sportal.rs) in Serbia; [sportal.hu](http://sportal.hu) in Hungary; [sport.sk](http://sport.sk) in Slovakia; A Bola and [abola.pt](http://abola.pt) in Portugal and [sportal.gr](http://sportal.gr) in Greece. The strategic investment in the British LiveScore Group in 2022 further underscores RSMG’s worldwide aspirations. RSMG reaches millions of sports fans monthly in Europe.

Stilian Shishkov, Senior Partner of Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG): "We are thrilled and deeply honored to join forces with Euroleague Basketball, a respected sports organization with a rich history of success. Euroleague Basketball holds a special place in the hearts of basketball fans as it continues to provide captivating moments on the court. With this partnership, [sportal.gr](http://sportal.gr) will be able to create a comprehensive digital offering for its readers. Together we want to share countless unforgettable moments."

Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Euroleague Basketball, Marketing & Communication Senior Director: "We are delighted to partner with [Sportal.gr](http://Sportal.gr) in such a traditional and important market as Greece. [Sportal.gr](http://Sportal.gr)’s rapid growth and commitment to excellence in providing sports fans with exciting content makes them the perfect partner for Euroleague Basketball to serve the existing fanbase and expose the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup to new fans."

Christos Christou, Managing Director of [sportal.gr](http://sportal.gr): “We are very happy and honored to partner with Euroleague, one of the most successful sports organizations in sports history. Basketball has always been the most beloved sport for Greek fans, and every year the Greek teams thrive either in the EuroLeague or EuroCup, offering lifetime emotions to their fans! [Sportal.gr](http://Sportal.gr) will create a holistic digital basketball section for its readers with lots of highlights, original video production, weekly studio live shows, video interviews, articles, stats, competitions, and viral social content, spreading the vibe of this amazing tournament and sharing many devoted moments."