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 Tuesday: Maccabi and Hapoel in a winner-takes-all game for the championship
The Yellows will try to recover from the painful loss in Game 2, defeat their city rivals, and capture their 56th championship crown in history. Kattash: "Defense will be the key to winning this game"
After dominating Game 1 and suffering a painful loss in Game 2, Winner’s League finals series will reach its climax with a deciding game that will determine the new champions. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will host their city rivals, Hapoel Tel Aviv, on Tuesday (9:00 pm Israel time) for a winner-takes-all battle, hoping to recover and clinch its 56th title in history.
Tomorrow’s finals decider will mark Maccabi’s 80th official game in this grueling season, and Oded Kattash’s players will strive to provide a happy ending. One reason for optimism is that the game will be played at Menora Mivtachim Arena in front of over 10,000 yellow fans. Hopefully, this atmosphere will push Maccabi to the final buzzer with smiles on their faces.
The roster for game 3 hasn’t changed. It will include star guards Wade Baldwin and Lorenzo Brown, alongside Roman Sorkin, Jake Cohen, John DiBartolomeo, Yiftach Ziv, Alex Poythress, Jarell Martin, Bonzie Colson, Rafi Menco, Guy Pnini, and Tomer Agmon.
“We don’t need any additional motivation after yesterday’s loss,” stated Kattash. “While the result was unexpected, I am confident in our ability to respond appropriately. This game is for the title, and that alone is enough to ensure our focus, determination, and readiness for an intense 40 minutes. Defense will be the key to securing a victory.”
Bonzie Colson also shared his thoughts following the loss in Game 2. “It was certainly a tough experience, but we will use it as a learning opportunity to grow and improve,” added the forward. “We need to stick to our fundamentals, avoid overthinking, and maintain our offensive flow. On the defensive end, generating stops and playing aggressively will bring us closer to our goals.”
Maccabi downs Hapoel, wins 56th championship in history!
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!
