Mordy Faber played for the MTA Lions in 1999 and 2000. His son, Yonatan, is a junior playing for TABC. Yonatan hit four 3-pointers in the Storm’s semifinal win as they reached their first Sarachek final.
In 1999, I was part of the MTA varsity basketball team that made an unforgettable run in the prestigious Red Saracheck Tournament. This was a significant year for MTA, as we won the tournament for the last time. It was especially exciting since that same year, Tamir Goodman, known as the "Jewish Jordan," graced the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Our journey to the title was filled with challenges. On Friday, we faced off against Hyman Brand from Kansas and managed to overcome a 13-point deficit to secure a hard-fought victory. On Sunday, we played against YULA, where I unfortunately tore cartilage in my knee toward the end of the game. Despite the injury, I pushed through and returned to the court on Monday, ready to compete in the championship game against Hillel.
The championship win was a momentous achievement, and it meant so much to be part of such an incredible team. To this day, Saracheck remains the greatest Jewish basketball tournament, and it’s surreal to now watch my own son compete in the same tournament I played in 25 years ago. It’s a full-circle moment that I’ll always cherish.