Maccabi Tel Aviv took another major step toward the championship on Thursday night, beating Hapoel Tel Aviv at Yad Eliyahu, technically as the away team, to go up 2-0 in the playoff final series. The next game is on Sunday, June 21, in the same arena, and could clinch the title if Maccabi wins, with the building expected to be full of yellow-clad fans.
Coach Oded Kattz said he expected a difficult game, noting that Hapoel adjusted its matchups and that Maccabi needed time to respond. “Congratulations and respect to the players,” he said, adding that the team overcame “two very serious crises,” first during Hapoel’s early run and later when Hapoel came back again. He said Maccabi stayed calm, adapted its defense, and showed character despite being shorter on roster depth.
Kattz singled out Iffe Lundberg, who scored 25 points, calling him “amazing” and “an outstanding player,” and saying he gives the team “confidence and calm.” He also said the switch to a zone defense helped. He praised the team’s resilience in what he described as a hard-fought road win over Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Lundberg said the series is not over and that Game 3 will be another difficult test. He said he was proud of his teammates and thanked the fans for giving the team energy away from home. He added that he tries to stay humble and does not need to score 25 points every night, saying he can also pass, score in different ways, or provide energy. “We are not going into the next game thinking that if we win, we are champions,” he said.
