Hapoel Tel Aviv Dominates Maccabi Tel Aviv in Derby, Extending Opponent's Losing Streak
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 105-87 in a dominant derby performance, marking Maccabi's fifth straight loss. Vasilije Micić led Hapoel with 31 points, while Maccabi's coach Oded Katash took responsibility for the team's struggles. The teams will meet again twice more in the coming weeks in cup and EuroLeague play.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 105-87 in a dominant derby victory.
- The loss was Maccabi Tel Aviv's fifth consecutive defeat across all competitions.
- Vasilije Micić starred for Hapoel with 31 points and nine three-pointers.
- Maccabi coach Oded Katash accepted responsibility and called for team reinforcements.
- The two rivals will face each other three more times in the next 12 days.
Hapoel Tel Aviv decisively defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 105-87 in their first league derby of the season at Menora Mivtachim Arena on Sunday. This loss marks Maccabi Tel Aviv's fifth consecutive defeat across all competitions, deepening their ongoing crisis. Vasilije Micić was the standout player for Hapoel, scoring 31 points with nine three-pointers and five assists, earning praise from his coach Dimitris Itoudis.
Maccabi Tel Aviv's coach Oded Katash took responsibility for his team's poor performance, acknowledging the disappointment of the fans and the team's struggles with confidence and stagnation. "I am the first one responsible," Katash stated, adding that the team is actively seeking reinforcements. He also noted that the fans' boos were understandable given the circumstances.
Itoudis expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, highlighting their strong offense, particularly their impressive three-point shooting in the first half, where they made 12 of 15 attempts. He described Micić as being "on his own planet" during the game. The coach also hinted at positive news regarding the team's roster soon.
Micić, who was instrumental in the victory, emphasized the importance of the derby win and expressed a desire for consistent strong performances. He also commented on his relationship with coach Itoudis, stating there were no issues, and welcomed new teammate Tamir Blatt, who had a strong debut against his former team. Micić also wished former teammate Yam Madar well.
The two teams are set to face each other three more times within the next 12 days, including the Winner Cup final and a EuroLeague matchup, with Hapoel Tel Aviv entering these games with renewed confidence, while Maccabi Tel Aviv faces pressure to find solutions quickly.
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