Maccabi Tel Aviv Leads Hapoel Tel Aviv Early in Winner Cup Final

Maccabi Tel Aviv is facing Hapoel Tel Aviv in the 2026 Winner Cup final at the Toto Hall in Holon. This is the second Tel Aviv derby between the two teams in eight days, with another Euroleague matchup scheduled just three days later. Maccabi, coached by Oded Katash, enters the game on a six-game losing streak across all competitions, including a significant 105-87 loss to Hapoel in their last league game. They are aiming for their 12th Winner Cup title.

Hapoel, led by Dimitris Itoudis, seeks their first Winner Cup title and their first domestic trophy since 1993. This marks only the second time these two Tel Aviv clubs have met in the tournament's final, with Maccabi winning the previous encounter in 2022 after overtime. Hapoel hopes to replicate their performance from the recent derby where Vasilije Micic scored 31 points with nine three-pointers, while Maccabi aims to break their losing streak and secure their second title of the season, having already won the Social Super Cup.

Team rosters were released about 90 minutes before the game. Maccabi's lineup includes Daniel Theis, Jaylen Hoard, Kithon Wallace, Oshea Brissett, and Jimmer Clark. Hapoel's roster features the player, Elijah Bryant, Eugene German, Tai Odiasi, and Antonio Blakeney. However, Itoudis will be without Micic due to a groin injury and Tomáš Satoranský, who is in protocol following a head injury.

In the first quarter, Maccabi's starting lineup was Yam Madar, John DiBartolomeo, Oshea Brissett, Jaylen Hoard, and Roman Sorkin. Hapoel's starters were Eugene German, Bar Timor, Elijah Bryant, Tomer Ginat, and the player. The player scored the first points of the game, but both teams struggled offensively in the initial minutes. Madar scored the first three-pointer for Maccabi, and after a period of missed shots and defensive play, Maccabi held a narrow 6-4 lead. Hoard ended a team shooting drought, while Hapoel remained disorganized, trailing 10-8.