By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The second reunion between Hapoel Netanel Holon and head coach Danny Franco lasted six months, with the 52-year-old tactician leaving his position upon a mutual agreement on Monday.
“Hapoel Holon has a special place in my heart, and I wanted to succeed here more than anything else. Thank you to the players who gave their all, and I wish the team and its amazing fans great success for the rest of the season,” the Holon native closed the third chapter with his hometown club.
With former assistant Yoav Shamir taking over as the interim head coach, the Israeli club is actively considering options for a permanent play-caller, moving forward in the 2025-26 schedule.
Following a 3-3 run in Group C of the Champions League Regular Season, Hapoel Holon earned the second seed in the four-team group en route to a best-of-three Play-In series versus Trapani Shark. However, falling to 7-4 in Israel’s Winner League Regular Season with a 54-point loss to Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv on Saturday grew the distance from the third-placed Yellows to 2.5 games, with Hapoel Gilat Telecom Haemek at 9-2 and undefeated Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv at 10-0.
MLP Academics Heidelberg, heading to a Play-In series opposite ERA Nymburk, parted ways with Marcus Weathers on Monday. Introducing himself to the BCL, the 28-year-old forward averaged 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over six appearances in the Regular Season.
Holon and Heidelberg are both resuming their continental campaigns next Tuesday, January 6, 2026, facing Shark in Samokov’s Arena SamElyon and Nymburk in Manheim’s GBG Halle am Herzogenried, respectively.