Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Slams Team After Super Cup Loss to Maccabi

Maccabi Tel Aviv decisively defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 101-83 in the Social Super Cup on Thursday, securing the first title of the 2026/27 season. Maccabi's dominant performance left Hapoel's star-studded roster, led by coach Dimitris Itoudis, struggling to respond.

Hapoel's star player, Elijah Bryant, did not participate in the game, with the team citing a hospital infusion as the reason. Vasilije Micić, returning from illness, scored 17 points for Hapoel but was later ejected after arguing with referees. Despite the loss, the team's owners sought to reassure the player.

Following the defeat, Itoudis expressed his disappointment with the team's effort, stating, "There is a loss and there is a loss. There is a way to lose. You didn't give everything and it showed. This way we cannot win in any competition." Hapoel captain Bar Timor acknowledged the severity of the loss, calling it a "slap that will wake us up" and vowing the team would learn and fight back.

Hapoel is looking to rebound in upcoming EuroLeague games, with the club expressing optimism that wins will help them forget the derby loss. They anticipate Jacob Toppin receiving Israeli citizenship within a month, and Tomer Ginat is expected to return from injury in about a month.

Despite the team's struggles, approximately 3,000 Hapoel fans attended the game, including the "Red South" fan group for their final appearance. The team is set to travel to Sofia, Bulgaria, for their first EuroLeague game against Bayern Munich. There is internal criticism regarding the decision to base operations in Bulgaria again this season, as foreign players have been given apartments there, while the coaching staff prefers the Bulgarian setup. Club chairman Gil Re'anan and Ofer Yanai are working to bring operations back to Israel, and club chairman Stav Shaham will meet with EuroLeague officials in Abu Dhabi to discuss the return of EuroLeague games to Israel.