At the end of January, Hapoel Holon made one of the most expensive deals in its history - per month - and brought back Tyros Maggie, who left San Pablo Burgos earlier this season to be the tiebreaker that would carry the team to the later stages of the league and Europe.
The move was successful, and since then Holon has taken its place in the first three places in the table, and of course qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
"We all want to reach the Final Four, it is very important to us," Maggie says in a special interview with "Israel Today" ahead of the opening of the series against Strasbourg.
"I've already been in those positions and I want to go back there. We have a good team that can do that. We know it will be one of the greatest achievements in the history of the club."
Maggie does not forget the loss in the quarterfinals last season to Burgos, in a game where he was also injured and finished the season.
"Obviously we remember that loss, it's something you take with you. There are a few other players on the team who have been there, and we definitely want to take at least one step further."
Both last season and this season, Holon has a special group of players. Can you compare them?
"Last season the team ran more and reached more shooting situations. This year we have good highs and we play a little slower, but both teams are great."
Can the current team do one step beyond what the previous one did?
"Without a doubt, I believe we can do it and advance to the Champions League semi-finals."
Maggie vs. Dijon in the Champions League.
Believes in his friends, Photo: Alan Schieber
"Natural connection with the fans"
After leaving Burgos, Maggie received several offers from teams across Europe, some at a higher salary than Holon offered, but decided to return to the team where he was successful last season, becoming one of the favorite foreigners to wear the purple uniform in recent years.
"Holon is like my second home," Hagard explains, "I played here and wanted to finish what I started last season. I felt comfortable here and it was important for me to help this team. I knew the club and the fans would welcome me with open arms."
Before you signed in Holon, there were rumors that Hapoel Jerusalem also approached you.
"That's right. There were several groups that offered me a contract, and Jerusalem was one of them."
So why did you not sign there?
"Listen, man," Maggie thinks for a few seconds, "I am a Holon player, and I will always be a Holon player."
We see the special bond between you and the fans. This is not something you see every day between a foreign player and fans in Israel.
"I love basketball, and Holon fans also love and understand basketball, so it is natural that there will be connection and love between us. I am very competitive, invest in offense and defense, and love to win, as you probably saw at the end of the league game against Hapoel Tel Aviv.
It did not matter to me to score myself, except that one of the young men would do it.
That's the story when you're a leader in a good team, and when I got here I told myself that's what matters.
The fans are crazy about it. "
Holon fans.
Special essay, Photo: Alan Schieber
Last season you and Isaiah Miles left Gaza in the middle of the missile attack, and Holon lost in the semifinals. Do you want to bring the season back to the fans?
"If I had not been injured, I would have stayed in Israel. Certainly. But I was injured, and there was nothing to do anyway. Holon was successful even without me and the staff was good. From now until the end of the season, every game will be a battle. Of course I want to win the championship with Holon. "15-14, I win titles, and I would love to add one more championship to my resume."
You are already 31. What are you looking for at this stage of your career? Money, professional challenge, degrees?
"I enjoy basketball, and probably the money comes through it. I have a good atmosphere and good energies. I don't really feel 31, but 26 or something. I do stretching and train every day even when there is no team training. As you get older, your body dictates how you are. "I feel and what needs to be done, so I need to take care of him and take care of him. I feel young, and I continue to do exactly the same thing every day. I hope the future is in my favor."
The club and the fans really want you to stay next season as well. Where do things stand?
"I've never signed a contract so early. We're supposed to have a baby in June, and we'll see how my wife feels. That's obviously important for decisions. I'm not yet making decisions for next year, we'll have to wait and see."
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