Maccabi Tel Aviv Advances to Winner Cup Final After Defeating Hapoel Jerusalem

Maccabi Tel Aviv has secured a spot in the Winner Cup final by defeating Hapoel Jerusalem 88-71 in a semi-final match held at the Toto Hall in Holon. The victory sets up a highly anticipated Tel Aviv derby final against Hapoel Tel Aviv in November, marking a significant win for Maccabi after a difficult start to their EuroLeague season.

The team, coached by Oded Kattash, overcame a significant scoring deficit in the first half, which saw them trailing by as many as ten points. Key performances from Roman Sorkin, who scored 16 points with perfect shooting, and Oshea Brissett, who added 17 points with 14 in the second half, were crucial in turning the tide. Iffe Lundberg was instrumental in the final quarter, scoring all 14 of his points in the decisive period to seal the win.

Maccabi played with a depleted roster, missing several key players including John DiBartolomeo, Bonzie Colson, Daniel Theis, and Armando Bacot. Despite this, they managed to avenge their loss to Hapoel Jerusalem in the same stage last season.

Hapoel Jerusalem, the defending champions, suffered their first loss of the 2026/27 season. They were without Lorenzo Brown, Dušan Miltić, and injured Jarell Harper. Despite a strong first half performance, highlighted by Devonte' Cacok's double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds), they couldn't maintain their lead. Turnovers, particularly six from Kenny Lofton Jr., a poor shooting night from Jalen Smith (4 points), and defensive lapses in the final quarter proved costly.

The game saw close scoring through the first three quarters, with Hapoel Jerusalem leading 16-15 after the first quarter and 32-31 at halftime. Maccabi Tel Aviv took a slim 59-54 lead into the final quarter, where Lundberg's explosive scoring performance propelled them to a decisive victory.