Maccabi Haifa keeps Gal Mekel for the season

he Maccabi Bazan Haifa professional basketball team of the Israeli Basketball Super League announced today that the team and Israeli point guard Gal Mekel have mutually agreed to exercise the option to extend Mekel’s contract through the remainder of the 2012-13 season. Mekel turned down several offers from other teams to stay with the Greens.


“We are excited to have Gal Mekel continue with Maccabi Bazan Haifa as he has proven to be a leader and a valuable asset to our team,” said Maccabi Bazan Haifa team owner Jeffrey Rosen. 


"I am very happy to stay with the team through the remainder of the season,” said Mekel. “Maccabi Bazan Haifa welcomed me with open arms and I connected excellently with the club, the players, the fans and the city. I hope we will continue on with our great season.”


Mekel, 24, was named “Player of the Month” of December, after posting 18.2 points and 8.8 assists per game, while shooting 41.7% from beyond the arc and 58.8% from two point range in four games in December. The 6-foot-3 point guard is the Israeli league leader in points scored, posting 14.3 points and leads the entire league in assists (7.3) and assists-to-turnover ratio (3.2).


Mekel is currently leading Israel's All-Star Game voting with 798 votes as of Friday, January 18, 2013. The Israeli Basketball Super League All-Star Game will be held at Maccabi Bazan Haifa's home court, Romema Arena, on March 18, 2013.