Maccabi Tel Aviv Drops EuroLeague Opener to LDLC ASVEL

Maccabi Tel Aviv began its EuroLeague season with a disappointing 84-74 loss to French club LDLC ASVEL in the opening round on Thursday. The Israeli team had hoped for a strong start, but struggled offensively and defensively against a more aggressive opponent. Coach Oded Katash acknowledged the team's difficulties, stating, "It was a tough game for us. The issue of lineups, chemistry, and substitutions is something we need to learn. We will find a way to do it, the season is still long."

Many players failed to replicate their strong performance from the recent Tel Aviv derby, with the team's first official European game resulting in a loss that could impact them throughout the season. Katash further elaborated on the team's struggles, noting, "Obviously, it was not a good game for us. We knew we were going to play against aggressiveness and athleticism. We weren't spaced enough in the right places, offensively we were very confused. In the second half, we made adjustments, but we weren't calm enough offensively."

Only three Maccabi players scored in double figures: Jalen Reynolds with 15 points and 6 assists, Roman Sorkin with 13 points and 5 rebounds, and Yovel Zoosman, who had a solid EuroLeague debut with 13 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds, though he also committed 4 turnovers. The club expressed satisfaction with their overall contribution, as they formed the core of the team's effort, while four players failed to score any points. Newcomer Jimmy Clark showed promise after returning from injury, contributing 9 points and 6 assists in just over 13 minutes before fouling out.

Other new signings also faced challenges. Bonzie Colson played less than 9 minutes due to illness, and Armando Bacot saw limited action with only 4 minutes on the court. Keeton Wallace, who impressed in preseason and the derby, scored only 2 points and committed 4 fouls in just over 12 minutes. Daniel Theis also debuted but appeared rusty, committing 4 turnovers alongside his 9 points. The team's high turnover rate, with 11 in the first half and 9 in the second, allowed ASVEL to capitalize with easy points. "We had a lot of turnovers that led to a lot of easy points for them, and that even disrupted our defensive plan a bit," said Katash.

Maccabi showed flashes of good play, particularly in the first and third quarters, but struggled to maintain consistency. Despite a strong run in the third quarter where they briefly took the lead, ASVEL regained control. The club expects to learn from this game, viewing it as the start of a process that will see the team evolve. Their next game is Sunday against Elitzur Kiryat Ata in the Winner Cup quarterfinals, where they hope to show a different performance. "We don't have much time. Next week we have three games. We need to learn from this quickly, keep our heads up, and be ready for the next challenge," Katash urged. In separate news, Sorkin has reached an agreement in principle on a new four-year contract worth approximately $1.5 million, though final details regarding the total sum and an opt-out clause are still being negotiated.