Maccabi Tel Aviv won the Israeli championship on Monday night, beating Hapoel Tel Aviv 83-79 in Game 4 of the final and taking the title for the 58th time in club history. After the victory, the team celebrated and several players and club officials reflected on the season and the future.
Backcourt guard Iffe Lundberg said, "That was a great series. We gave everything and hoped to win the championship today. I came to Maccabi to help the team, that is why I signed here, and I am very happy. I always believed in myself, nobody will believe in me if I do not do it. I try to make winning plays for the team. I am very proud of all my teammates, everyone gave everything from the first moment of the series until the last." He added that he still does not know whether he will remain next season and plans to enjoy the celebrations first.
Roman Sorkin said he owed the team a lot after the previous game and a half, when he had not been himself, but was glad he finally responded. He called it "the sweetest championship" together with his first one at Maccabi. Team captain John DiBartolomeo said it felt great after a long season and everything that happened in Israel, and said the club's goal is always to win every domestic title. Zak Hankins also praised the playoff run and said he did not yet know if he would stay.
Club owner Shimon Mizrahi said, "The championship and the cup are our bread and butter. We completed a great double today." He said the team is built on a collective rather than individuals, praised head coach Oded Katash and his staff, and noted the club reached this point without four key players. Looking ahead, Mizrahi said Maccabi is doing everything to build a strong and quality team, and that succeeding in the EuroLeague will require playing in Israel.
