Maccabi Tel Aviv Secures Second Straight League Win

Maccabi Tel Aviv achieved their second consecutive victory in the Israeli Premier League on Sunday, defeating Ironi Kiryat Ata 116-89 in the second round of the season. The team delivered a convincing offensive performance at home, following a recent EuroLeague win against Valencia. This victory provided significant relief after a challenging start to their European campaign.

"We are happy to be winning, in this way, at home, in front of the fans. We come to every practice and every game prepared and with the utmost seriousness," stated team sources. "We didn't guard them well enough in the first quarter, but in the second quarter we guarded better and felt improvement. Everyone is still learning the system and the team approach."

Coach Oded Katash utilized a wide rotation, giving significant playing time to most of the team's players. Captain John DiBartolomeo stood out with a remarkable 21 points, all from three-point range, hitting seven threes to set a career high in that category, along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. T.J. Leaf contributed 17 points, appearing to regain his rhythm, while Armando Bacot added 18 points and 5 rebounds. Newcomer Shane Hunter recorded a double-double in his debut with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The club expressed satisfaction with the performance of these players, with Hunter demonstrating his suitability for the team and expressing confidence in his ability to play in the EuroLeague. "There were clear differences in level, and we won by such a margin. You can't ask for more. We need to keep working and accumulate more wins in the EuroLeague," a club source commented.

Key players Yann Mader, Jalen Hurd, Will Rayman, Daniel Theis, and Iffe Lundberg were rested for this game. Coach Katash indicated that Mader, who sustained a tailbone injury, is expected to return soon for the game against Real Madrid. He also highlighted the importance of Lundberg, who was absent due to illness and a minor knee injury.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will now shift their focus back to the EuroLeague, traveling on Wednesday for their matchup against Real Madrid on Thursday. The game will be played in Belgrade, where Maccabi continues to host its European home games. The team is preparing for another tough Spanish opponent, with aggressiveness and intensity being key focus areas in their preparations.