By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Hapoel Tel Aviv signed swingman Braian Angola for the next two seasons, the Israeli club announced.
Per Hapoel, Angola arrived in Israeli on Thursday and he underwent a “series of comprehensive tests to receive all the necessary approvals to play.”
The Colombian player was set to join Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel’s archrival, earlier in the summer, but reportedly failed to pass his medical.
However, per his agent Nikos Spanos, that’s not the case. As he tweeted: “Braian Angola has successfully passed 5 medical exams in Greece, Turkey (3 times) and Israel within the last 14 months. Any mention of alleged health problems will be treated as damaging from now on and dealt with accordingly”.
“Congratulations on Brian joining our ranks,” Hapoel coach Danny Franco said. “Brian meets many of the needs we were looking for in one player, the ability to carry the ball and a creation that combines size that allows him to play in all guard positions. Brian’s diverse abilities will allow us to play in different formations and will make it easier to manage the loads in the foreign registration in the Israeli league. I appreciate the effort and investment involved in this move and I’m sure it’s a winning move.”
In 2022-23, Angola averaged 14.2 points 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in the Basketball Champions League with Pinar Karsiyaka. In the Turkish BSL League, he posted 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
“Angola gave up big offers from Russia, Spain, and Turkey for signing with us,” said Hapoel chairman Rami Cohen. “During the last few days, Angola arrived in Israel for comprehensive tests, at the end of which he was approved to play basketball in Hapoel Tel Aviv.“