Maccabi Tel Aviv came away angry and disappointed after Sunday night’s 80-74 loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv in Game 3 of the championship series, which cut Maccabi’s lead to 2-1 after it had opened the final with two convincing wins and a 2-0 advantage. The defeat denied the yellow team a chance to clinch the title in front of a full home arena, and it now must try again on Tuesday in an away game expected to draw only about 1,100 traveling supporters.
The biggest source of frustration inside Maccabi was the officiating. After the final buzzer, coach Oded Kattash and sporting director Claudio Coldebella went to the referees’ room to speak with game referee Omer Esteron. The club complained about inconsistent calls and what it saw as overly harsh decisions against Maccabi. Kattash showed his displeasure repeatedly during the game and came close to being warned several times.
Inside the club, there was a strong sense of disappointment because Maccabi had reached the game with strong momentum and was just 40 minutes from the championship. Instead, it struggled to find the rhythm and dominance that defined the first two games, especially on offense. Maccabi shot only 9 of 33 from three-point range and finished at 47 percent from the field, while Hapoel produced better numbers and finished stronger.
Team sources said, “We did not play at the level we set, and most of the players were far from their best. We were not at the right energy, and not at the right approach.” Another quote from inside the team said Maccabi failed to play together, was not calm with the ball, and made rushed decisions under pressure. Jimmy Clark led Maccabi with 24 points and 7 assists, followed by Iffe Lundberg with 15 points, Jaylen Hoard with 12 points and 9 rebounds, and Oshae Brissett with a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double. Will Rayman and Roman Sorkin finished scoreless, with Sorkin playing 25 minutes without scoring.
Even while chasing the title, Maccabi is also building for next season. The club has agreed to two-year contract extensions with captain John DiBartolomeo and Brissett, and it is in advanced talks with center Richaun Holmes, who was released by Panathinaikos in March.
