Maccabi Tel Aviv Secures First EuroLeague Win, Showing Signs of Improvement

Maccabi Tel Aviv achieved its first victory of the EuroLeague season on Thursday, defeating Milan 97-79. This win brings Maccabi's record to 3-1, offering hope and optimism after a difficult start to the competition. Unlike their previous three decisive losses, the team displayed a markedly different performance, controlling the game from the outset and securing a clear win.

Coach Oded Katash described the victory as "a big win for us, we really needed it for our confidence." He praised the team's early game execution, resilience, and defensive consistency, noting the significant impact of utilizing a larger number of players. "We showed a lot of heart," Katash stated, emphasizing the importance of building confidence through such performances.

The team exhibited renewed purpose and energy, playing with a fluidity that prevented the opponent from building momentum, a recurring issue in earlier games. Notably, Maccabi committed only 8 turnovers, a single-digit figure for the first time this EuroLeague season. "We hope the connection will be even better, and the ability will continue in this direction," a club representative commented, highlighting the ongoing work to improve and correct mistakes.

Player Yams Madar was named the game's MVP, scoring 17 points and dishing out 4 assists with a game index of 22, despite playing through back pain. "He always tries very hard, and today he had a great impact on the game," Katash said of Madar. Jalen Hurd also contributed significantly with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, expressing optimism about the team's upward trajectory after reviewing game footage and addressing errors.

Other notable performances included Bonzie Colson, who scored 9 of his 13 points in the final quarter, and Jimi Clark, who added 9 points and 4 assists after a slow start. Daniel Theis, returning from an ankle injury, scored 8 points efficiently and provided defensive support. Captain John DiBartolomeo was not in the lineup as the coaching staff opted for players in better game shape. Maccabi Tel Aviv's next game is their Winner League season opener at home against Hapoel Galil Elyon, coinciding with Coach Katash's birthday.