Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Dismisses Mental Block After Cup Final Collapse
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv lost the Winner Cup final to Maccabi Tel Aviv after leading by 23 points, with coach Itoudis citing turnovers and defensive lapses. Itoudis dismissed suggestions of a mental block, emphasizing his short tenure and the team's tactical failures. The club is actively pursuing a EuroLeague license, which Itoudis believes the organization is capable of achieving.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv lost the Winner Cup final to Maccabi Tel Aviv after blowing a 23-point lead.
- Coach Itoudis rejected claims of a mental block, blaming turnovers and poor defense.
- The loss marked Hapoel's first potential title since 1993.
- Itoudis stated the team "didn't defend smartly" and "didn't manage the ball well."
- Hapoel Tel Aviv is actively seeking a EuroLeague license.
Hapoel Tel Aviv suffered a stunning 86-75 defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Winner Cup final, squandering a 23-point lead in the third quarter. The loss, which occurred on November 9, 2026, prevented Hapoel from winning their first Israeli title since 1993. Coach Itoudis attributed the collapse to turnovers and an inability to handle Maccabi's aggressive defense. "We gave up 31 points from turnovers, we kept losing the ball and they slowly came back," Itoudis stated, "We couldn't cope with their aggressiveness and lost our chance."
When asked if the loss indicated a mental block, Itoudis expressed impatience, stating, "I wasn't here 33 years ago. I've been here for two years. Let's not make a story out of this." He elaborated that the team had built momentum but failed to defend smartly and manage the ball effectively, allowing Maccabi back into the game. "We didn't defend smartly and didn't manage the ball well and they came back into the game," he added.
Despite the disappointing loss, Itoudis remains optimistic about the club's pursuit of a EuroLeague license. "We are making great efforts for it. EuroLeague sees us as a club that can be part of it, show stability and build a good roster," he said, indicating the club's ambition to compete at the highest European level.
