Maccabi Tel Aviv Coach Oded Katash Reflects on EuroLeague Struggles and Cup Win

Maccabi Tel Aviv bounced back from a difficult EuroLeague week by defeating Hapoel Jerusalem 88-71 in the Winner Cup semifinals, securing a spot in the final against Hapoel Tel Aviv. In the final quarter, Efev Lundberg led the charge, propelling coach Oded Katash and his players to a victory that eased some pressure ahead of their upcoming EuroLeague game against Milan.

Katash expressed satisfaction with the win, acknowledging the team's physical and mental fatigue after a demanding week. He highlighted the importance of the crowd's support, which was missed in recent losses, and praised his players for finding the energy to compete against an aggressive Jerusalem side. While the offense improved in the second half, Katash stressed the need to start games more effectively, noting that the defense was crucial to their success.

Reflecting on their EuroLeague performance, Katash admitted that the team's opening games did not meet expectations and negatively impacted morale and confidence. He emphasized the need to find a way to win consistently, even without home crowd support, citing the upcoming away game in Belgrade. "We had a bad EuroLeague opening, not as we expected. We didn't see it coming so much. It hurt our morale, it hurt our confidence. We need to find a way to come back and win," Katash stated.

Regarding the team's overall performance, Katash attributed struggles to a combination of factors, including recent setbacks. He believes Maccabi is better than their current 0-2 EuroLeague record suggests and is focused on the team's development rather than just immediate results. He also provided an update on player Daniel Theis, hoping for his return to practice soon, and commented on player Kiton's high level of aggression and commitment, noting that adaptation takes time.

Roman Sorkin also commented on the win, calling for patience as the team learns its way. He acknowledged Jerusalem's strength and the difficulty of the game, but was pleased with the late surge. "We needed this win, it's like a broken record, it's just the beginning of the season. We have a certain way we are learning, we need to improve from game to game and learn from day to day because there aren't many practices," Sorkin said. He added that while expectations are high due to continuity, the team must learn from losses without losing faith.