Hapoel Tel Aviv entered the playoff final series against bitter rival Maccabi Tel Aviv in strong form, but the first game told a very different story. By the end of the third quarter, Hapoel was already trailing by 22 points, prompting sharp criticism online of coach Dimitris Itoudis and his players.
The reactions were harsh, with one widely repeated line describing Hapoel as a “dead” team and saying the performance was “too big for Itoudis.” Another comment called it an “embarrassing evening” and asked why Platin was not getting an opportunity. The backlash centered on the team’s flat showing after what had been expected to be a high-momentum start to the series.
The article does not give the final score, but it makes clear that the opening game of the championship series in Israel’s top basketball league turned into a one-sided contest. Hapoel’s collapse in the third quarter became the focal point of the online response.
The piece was published by Sport 5 on June 16, 2026, at 22:18, with reporting credited to Alan Schiber.