"The Chief is back," says Pete Michael
Michael was a big name in European basketball.
The American forward played four seasons in Barcelona and won the Euroleague with her in 2010.
He retired from acting about five years ago and became an agent.
Last season he came to Israel to visit his player and saw him play.
"Chinano's biggest commitment is to win," said Michael in a conversation from the United States, noting that he was very pleased with the selection of the red team: "The Eurocup is the second best league in Europe and the Israeli league is a good league."
A sought-after commodity
Israeli basketball went on alert last week when it became known the surprising release of the center from the Italian Dynamo Cesari.
His numbers there were good.
In the Champions League he averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds per game.
The thing is, the player lacks the chemistry and connection he had here in Israel, along with the team's poor results.
Pete, why was Onwako released from Sesari?
"I was an actor and I know the feelings.
Chinano just wasn't happy there.
I asked for the release and I got it.
Nothing negative happened and I don't have a bad word to say about the Italian club.
The main reason is that he is a winner and he wants to fight for titles and that is what is going to happen."
Why did he decide to come to Hapoel Tel Aviv?
"The Hapoel is a group with many ambitions.
A very serious club.
They show it from the beginning of the season.
Therefore it was very suitable for Onuaku.
The player feels that this is the place to win titles, both in the Eurocup and in the league.
"With him, titles come before money. I was like that too. I won a lot of titles in Spain when I played in Barcelona and Baskonia. This is the most important thing for a player. We gave up higher offers because of the chance to win. Beyond that, Chinano feels very good in Israel. He had a good experience Very much in Herzliya last season."
Onuaku last season.
"He's a winner,"
"A new dimension in the championship fight"
His return created a big story here.
"I know that now the expectations will rise. It's natural when last season's MVP arrives. Hapoel already has a good team, but when a player like that arrives, it raises it to another level. It introduces a new dimension in the fight for the championship with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Even when he played in Herzliya, It was dangerous for Maccabi Tel Aviv."
And in the summer there were rumors that he was a candidate to move to her.
"I spoke many times with Maccabi, but the fact is that we did not receive any offer from them and I think it was a mistake on their part. Of course, Maccabi was interested in Chinano because he is a Euroleague player. In the end, they went for two other top players."
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