Maccabi Tel Aviv 
Hapoel Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
On Thursday: Winner's League finals get underway
Maccabi will host Hapoel for a city Derby in game 1. Jarell Martin will return to the roster, replacing Darrun Hilliard. Kattash: "The players are still hungry"
The 2022/23 season is about to reach its climax as Winner’s League finals kick off on Thursday (9:15 pm Israel time) at Menora Mivtachim Arena. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will host Hapoel Tel Aviv for game 1 in a best-of-3 series, with the championship title and city pride at stake.
Jarell Martin will return to Maccabi’s roster in the Derby, replacing Darrun Hilliard. The full roster includes John DiBartolomeo, Lorenzo Brown, Roman Sorkin, Jake Cohen, Yiftach Ziv, Alex Poythress, Wade Baldwin, Jarell Martin, Bonzie Colson, Rafi Menco, Guy Pnini, Tomer Agmon.
“We are in the final stretch of a very long season, but the players are still hungry,” said Kattash ahead of game 1. “We must come with the right energy and focus because we’re facing a strong opponent.”
Bonzie Colson echoed his coach’s mindset: “We know this series will be tough and challenging, but we should feel blessed that we’re here, fighting for a championship. Hapoel has talent and many weapons. They like to run, so we must be prepared.”
This series will mark the 11th time Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv have faced each other in the finals, with Maccabi winning all previous encounters. The most recent was in 2005, when Maccabi swept the Reds 3-0. The head-to-head record between the city rivals in the playoffs stands at 46-9 in favor of Maccabi.
The teams have met four times this season, with Oded Kattash’s players winning three games—two in the league and one in the Winner’s Cup final. All encounters were closely contested, with no team winning by more than seven points.
Maccabi strikes first in finals, takes 1-0 lead over Hapoel
The Yellows are closing in on the championship title after beating city rivals 90-79 at home. Wade Baldwin scored 14. Game 2: on Sunday
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv is just one win away from clinching the Israeli state championship for the 56th time in its history. With a commanding performance, the Yellows defeated their city rivals, Hapoel, 90-79, at Menora Mivtachim Arena and will aim to seal the series on Sunday in game 2.
Maccabi’s decisive victory in the game is largely attributed to its dominance in rebounding. The Yellows secured 38 rebounds compared to Hapoel’s 28, denying the Reds any significant opportunity to gain momentum. Additionally, Oded Kattash’s team demonstrated outstanding defense by forcing Hapoel’s key players into difficult shot attempts.
The game started at a high pace. Both teams traded baskets, with Bonzie Colson’s three carrying Maccabi to a 23-14 lead after 7 minutes. The visitors returned to wrap up the first quarter at 25-22 in Maccabi’s favor, but the Yellows didn’t panic. Five minutes into the second quarter, Jake Cohen’s three-pointer ignited an 11-2 run, shifting the momentum in favor of the hosts. Maccabi held a 43-38 lead at halftime.
Hapoel scored the first basket in the second half, but the Yellow response came fast. Lorenzo Brown nailed two three-pointers, extending the hosts’ lead to 12. Maccabi’s star guard continued to set the pace, providing assists to his teammates and propelling his team to a 67-56 lead entering the final 10 minutes.
The hole just got bigger for Hapoel in the fourth, with Wade Baldwin also joining the celebration and contributing 14 points and nine assists. Yiftach Ziv’s three, four minutes to the final buzzer increased the lead to 19, effectively putting the game away.
Game 2 at Hapoel’s gym promises to be much more challenging, but Maccabi certainly has much to build on following today’s performance.
