Maccabi Tel Aviv Dominates Hapoel Galil Elyon in Season Opener

The 2026/27 Israeli Basketball Premier League season commenced on Saturday evening with defending champions Maccabi Tel Aviv hosting Hapoel Galil Elyon. Maccabi entered the game buoyed by a recent EuroLeague victory over Milan, which boosted the team's confidence. Coach Oded Katash opted to rest several players, including Daniel Theis, Efi Lundberg, and Oshey Brisker, ahead of a demanding double-header week in Spain. Captain John DiBartolomeo was registered and expected to see significant playing time to regain match fitness. Shane Hunter was also unavailable, with only one of him or Will Rayman permitted to play in each game. Hapoel Galil Elyon is one of only two teams in the league to field just four foreign players throughout the season, a strategy intended to provide more opportunities for Israeli players. The team also plans to feature at least two young players, Rani Blaga and Ariel Sela, who are set to receive their first significant minutes in the Premier League and are hoped to meet club expectations. In the first quarter, Maccabi's starting lineup included Yam Madar, Keton Wallace, Bonzie Colson, TJ Leaf, and Roman Sorkin. Galil Elyon countered with Nate Kings, Elston Mason, Maurice Kemp, Yahli Melamed, and Max Brooks. Yam Madar initiated the scoring with five consecutive points, and Roman Sorkin capped off a fast break with a dunk, propelling Maccabi to an early 7-0 lead.