Hapoel Tel Aviv 
Maccabi Tel Aviv Hapoel Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
On Sunday: Maccabi aims to win the championship in finals game 2
The Yellows will try to seal the series at Hapoel Tel Aviv's gym and be crowned champions for the 56th time in their history. Cohen: "We have been preparing for this moment throughout the entire season"
It all comes down to this. With one win separating Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv from winning Winner’s League championship, the Yellows will clash with Hapoel Tel Aviv on Sunday (9:15 pm), hoping to seal the finals series at 2-0 and lift the coveted trophy for the 56th time in their history.
Oded Kattash’s players can take great optimism from their convincing 90-79 victory in game 1. However, Sunday’s battle against their city rivals promises to be more challenging since it will be played at Hapoel’s Arena.
Kattash did not make any changes to the roster, which will include Roman Sorkin, Jake Cohen, John DiBartolomeo Yiftach Ziv, Alex Poythress, Wade Baldwin, Jarell Martin, Bonzie Colson, Rafi Menco, Guy Pnini, and Tomer Agmon.
“This isn’t just another game. It’s a championship game, and we are determined to win it,” stated Kattash. “We need to start the game strong and approach it with a sense of urgency. There are areas where we can still improve, with the most crucial one being capitalizing on our strengths at any given moment in the game.”
“We have faced tough crowds multiple times this season, including in Hapoel’s gym, so we know what we’re up against,” stated Jake Cohen, Maccabi’s forward. “We have been preparing for this moment throughout the entire season, both physically and mentally, to ensure we are ready. And now that it’s finally here, we need to savor and enjoy it.”
Maccabi falls in game 2, finals series heads to decider
The Yellows were beaten by their city rivals 112-74, setting up a winner-takes-all game for the title on Tuesday. Baldwin led Maccabi with 18 points.
One do-or-die game will determine who will be the Winner’s League 2023 champions. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv had a chance to clinch the title this evening, but a poor all-around performance cost them a 112-74 loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv, evening the finals series at 1-1. Game 3 will be played on Tuesday at Menora Mivtachim Arena.
Oded Kattash’s players, who dominated game 1, fell behind very early and trailed 36-17 at the end of the first quarter, with Xavier Munford and Jordan Mcrae doing most of the damage. The Yellows tried to close the gap but were inferior in almost every statistical category, resulting in a tough loss.
Still, Maccabi has much to build on ahead of the series decider. The Yellows will host game 3 in front of a packed gym. Additionally, the way things unfolded today will motivate the players to settle the score with their city rivals that have yet to defeat Maccabi away. Stay tuned.
