The Yellows triumphed over city rivals 94-90 in the finals thrilling game 3, sealing the series at 2-1. Brown and Baldwin combined for 44 points in an unforgettable evening
What an evening! What a season! What a championship! In a nerve-racking title-deciding Game 3 of Winner’s League finals, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv emerged triumphant, defeating city rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv 94-90 to secure the 56th championship in the club’s illustrious history.
It was a game in which Maccabi dominated, but the final minutes were filled with thrilling suspense. The Yellows initially established what appeared to be a comfortable lead (83-68), only to face an unexpected turn of events. Oded Kattash’s players missed open shots, allowing the Reds to embark on a sudden and impressive 17-0 run.
Just when the yellow fans saw the championship slipping away, Lorenzo Brown (22 points and 7 assists) and Wade Baldwin (22 points and 8 assists) took charge. Maccabi’s star guards remained composed, making smart and bold decisions during crunch time to secure the hard-fought victory. Baldwin’s outstanding performance earned him the well-deserved title of Finals MVP, reflecting his tremendous individual contribution to the team’s success. Until next season – Yalla Maccabi!”
Maccabi appeared hesitant at the start, allowing Hapoel to take an early 11-4 lead. However, Wade Baldwin and Lorenzo Brown swiftly combined for 13 points, giving the hosts the advantage. Brown’s long-range shot ended the closely contested first quarter with a score of 26-23 in favor of the Yellows.
John DiBartolomeo came off the bench at the start of the second quarter and made a valuable three-pointer, propelling Maccabi to a 31-25 lead. However, the game remained closely contested, with Roman Sorkin’s free throw putting Maccabi ahead (37-34) just two minutes before halftime. As the teams headed to the locker rooms, the Yellows maintained a 42-38 lead.
An extraordinary alley-oop by Alex Poythress sent the crowd into a frenzy, establishing a 9-point lead for the hosts. Despite facing early team fouls in the third quarter, Maccabi maintained dominance. The Yellows kept a firm grip on the game as the final ten minutes approached, leading 75-64.
Bonzie Colson’s successful free throws extended Maccabi’s lead to 15 points (83-68) in the middle of the fourth quarter, bringing the Yellows closer to the finish line. Despite Hapoel’s resilience, mounting a 17-0 run to reduce the deficit to three, Wade Baldwin took charge in the nerve-racking closing minutes. His decisive performance sealed the victory and secured Maccabi its 56th championship in history!
