Unlike quite a few other foreign players who land in Israel and need time to acclimatize to their team, Chinano Onuaku went straight into Hapoel Tel Aviv's bubbling pressure cooker and expectations were accordingly.
His signing created an extraordinary media buzz and was widely covered in the Israeli sports media and abroad, and when he landed at Ben Gurion Airport in the middle of the night, he received extensive coverage.
"People may forget but Onuaku joined the team relatively late, in mid-November, three months after training began. This is the most critical time of the year during which the players get to know each other and the chemistry in the dressing room is formed," the club said.
The Chief's beginning in the red uniform was not simple and the lack of connection on the court was evident, he did not mention the player who only a few months earlier recorded one of the greatest seasons presented by an interior player in Israel in the past decade, on the way to the MVP of the regular season, and also the hunger to prove and motivation was lower.
Chinano Onuaku in action. A quiet and pompous man, photo: Alan Shaver
Over many weeks, they worked with the player quite a bit on the mental side, in order to take the pressure off him and succeed in integrating him into the team fluency. Contrary to what was required of him throughout his years as a professional player, when he was required and also assumed the role of star of the team, the one through which everything passes, in the red uniform the player had to become a complementary player for the first time in his career, accept the change in his status and perform 'black' actions, the kind you don't see in statistics.
The person who took the chin under his wing was Xavier Manford. The veteran guard previously played opposite the Chiefs in the NBA Development League and the two had an early acquaintance and a good relationship. Onuaku, who became a father for the first time a few weeks before the season opened, arrived in Israel alone and Manford made sure to assist him in the absorption process.
"The impression of Onuaku's appearance can be confusing," his associates say. "He's a very quiet and withdrawn person, doesn't say much and is a little suspicious of people he doesn't know. His image is wrong and it bothers him, he hears the criticisms and knows what is being said about him. Those who know him know that he is a good person and a good teammate. At Hapoel Tel Aviv he had to deal for the first time in his career with the pressure and expectations of a big club alongside the crowd and media that are around him every game."
Onuaku. If he wins the championship with Hapoel Tel Aviv, it will already be something special, Photo: Danny Maron
The turning point was actually against Hapoel Holon, a game that the player saw on the civilian after not registering for the game. Understanding that his importance to the success of the team was critical helped him make the mental change. Onuaku realized that he could contribute on the court in different ways even if he wasn't the leading scorer every night, and so he did.
Two weeks passed, Dani Franco's pupils hosted Ironi Nes Ziona, and the big man under the basket responded with a wonderful game of 8 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists (a season high). The mental and professional change was evident. The Reds began to involve the player much more in the attacking game and build drills for him, and he showed increased desire and commitment. The player's teammates describe him as one who most wants to win and as such he knows how to express himself at the decisive moment.
Onuaku celebrates with the red crowd, photo: Alan Shaver
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On paper, Onuaku is the Reds' main advantage over the Yellows. Onuaku, who has entered a small list of players who have led two different teams other than Maccabi Tel Aviv to the finals year after year, knows that the road to the heights of European basketball continues in the first game of the playoff final series at the Menora Mivtachim Arena.
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