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 overwhelmed Hapoel's star-studded lineup.

Hapoel's star player, Elijah Bryant, did not play, with the team citing a hospital infusion. Vasilije Micić, returning from illness, scored 17 points for Hapoel but was later ejected after arguing with referees. The team's owners sought to calm the player after the game.

Despite the loss, Hapoel is looking ahead, with club officials expressing confidence that upcoming EuroLeague victories will overshadow the derby defeat. They believe the current squad needs time to gel. Hapoel anticipates Jacob Toppin will receive Israeli citizenship within a month, and Tomer Ginat is expected back from injury in about a month.

Coach Dimitris Itoudis expressed strong disappointment with his team's effort, stating in the locker room, "There's a loss and there's a loss. There's a way to lose. You didn't give your all and it showed. This way, we can't win in any competition." Hapoel captain Bar Timor acknowledged the stinging defeat, calling it a "slap that will wake us up" and vowing the team would fight back.

Approximately 3,000 Hapoel fans attended the game, including the "Red Fans" organization for their final cheer. The team is set to fly to Sofia, Bulgaria, for their EuroLeague opener against Bayern Munich. There is internal criticism regarding the decision to base the season start in Bulgaria, as foreign players have apartments there, while the coaching staff prefers the Bulgarian setup, a point of contention among players and some staff. Club chairman Gil Re'anan and Ofer Yanai are working to bring operations back to Israel, while Stav Shaham will meet with EuroLeague officials in Abu Dhabi to advance the return of EuroLeague games to Israel.