Maccabi Tel Aviv Faces Hapoel Jerusalem in Winner Cup Semifinal Amidst EuroLeague Struggles

Maccabi Tel Aviv is set to play Hapoel Jerusalem in the Winner Cup Sal semifinals on Tuesday evening, hoping to secure a domestic title after a disappointing start to their EuroLeague season. The team is returning from a double EuroLeague week where they suffered three consecutive losses, marking the worst European season opening in the club's history. Despite the frustration, the team believes they can overcome the current situation and aims for a quick turnaround, acknowledging the difficulty of every EuroLeague game this season. They emphasize the need for improved desire and energy to execute their game plan.

The team returned from Greece early Tuesday morning and held an evening practice. Center Daniel Theis did not participate due to an ankle injury he sustained recently. Theis has not practiced in recent days, and the club is attempting to get him ready for play. He was ultimately not dressed for the last game against Panathinaikos, and it is expected he will also miss the upcoming game against Hapoel Jerusalem to avoid aggravating the injury.

Coach Oded Katash stated before the game that the team's objective is to put the poor EuroLeague start behind them and focus on the upcoming match. He acknowledged the limited preparation time but expressed confidence that a game against a strong opponent like Hapoel Jerusalem could help the team regain focus and the energy that has been lacking in recent games.