With the exciting European campaign in the rear view mirror, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv set its sights on the final goal of the season: bringing back the Israeli championship. And on Sunday (6:30 PM Israel Time, 11:30 AM ET), the Yellow-and-Blue squad face a challenging task, the Tel Aviv Derby. It's the final game of the regular season, and the winners will finish the season atop the standings and earn home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Maccabi (21-5) beat Hapoel (20-6) in the previous home derby, but lost to the city rivals on the road earlier this season. It will be the 129th Derby held in the regular season all-time, with the Maccabists winning 93 times compared with the Reds' 35 wins.
Just four days after Game 5 in the EuroLeague Playoffs, Coach Oded Kattash decided against resting his top players. Lorenzo Brown, Wade Baldwin IV and Bonzie Colson are all part of the 12-men roster for the Derby. They are accompanied by captain John DiBartolomeo, Jarell Martin, Rafi Menco, Roman Sorkin, Guy Pnini, Jake Cohen, Tomer Agmon, Josh Nebo, and Yiftach Ziv.
Maccabi (21-5) beat Hapoel (20-6) in the previous home derby, but lost to the city rivals on the road earlier this season. It will be the 129th Derby held in the regular season all-time, with the Maccabists winning 93 times compared with the Reds' 35 wins.
Just four days after Game 5 in the EuroLeague Playoffs, Coach Oded Kattash decided against resting his top players. Lorenzo Brown, Wade Baldwin IV and Bonzie Colson are all part of the 12-men roster for the Derby. They are accompanied by captain John DiBartolomeo, Jarell Martin, Rafi Menco, Roman Sorkin, Guy Pnini, Jake Cohen, Tomer Agmon, Josh Nebo, and Yiftach Ziv.