Maccabi Tel Aviv won its 58th Israeli championship on Tuesday night with an 83-79 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv, clinching the final series 3-1. Soon after the final buzzer, tensions flared on the floor, with a larger confrontation centered on Maccabi guard Loni Walker and Hapoel forward Tomer Ginat.
According to footage captured by Sports Channel cameras, the incident began moments after the customary postgame handshakes. Hapoel owner Ofer Yanai was nearby when Lundberg approached him, but Yanai declined to shake his hand. Yanai then did shake hands with Roman Sorkin.
The situation escalated when Walker arrived. Yanai did not shake Walker’s hand, but the two bumped fists. Walker then taunted Yanai by waving the championship hat toward him and shouting. That gesture angered George Hinas and brought Ginat over, where he confronted the opposing player. Walker responded by pointing again at the championship hat.
At the same time, Corey Carr, Maccabi’s player development coach, came over to greet Yanai, who again refused the handshake. Their exchange did not turn physical, and the two spoke calmly. The full report on what happened behind the game is set to air on the late sports news edition on 5SPORT.