Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Dismisses Mental Block After Cup Final Loss
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv's coach Itoudis dismissed the idea of a mental block after his team lost the Winner Cup final to Maccabi Tel Aviv, despite holding a 23-point lead. He cited turnovers and a failure to match Maccabi's aggression for the 86-75 defeat. Itoudis also commented on the club's ongoing efforts to secure a EuroLeague license, expressing optimism about their potential.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Itoudis rejected claims of a mental block after a significant loss.
- The team lost the Winner Cup final to Maccabi Tel Aviv, squandering a 23-point lead.
- Itoudis cited turnovers and a lack of smart defense as reasons for the collapse.
- Hapoel Tel Aviv has not won a title since 1993.
- The club is actively pursuing a EuroLeague license.
Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Itoudis expressed frustration following his team's 86-75 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Winner Cup final, a game in which they squandered a 23-point lead. The team had not won a title since 1993 and missed a significant opportunity to secure their first trophy in decades.
"We gave up. We gave up 31 points from turnovers, we kept losing the ball and they slowly came back. We couldn't deal with their aggressiveness and lost our chance," Itoudis stated, attributing the collapse to turnovers and an inability to match Maccabi's intensity. He acknowledged that Maccabi Tel Aviv deserved the win.
When questioned about a potential mental block, Itoudis reacted with 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 emphasized that the team had built momentum and was not facing a heroic issue, but rather a failure to defend smartly and manage the ball effectively.
Looking ahead, Itoudis discussed the club's pursuit of a EuroLeague license, noting that significant efforts are being made. He believes EuroLeague officials see Hapoel Tel Aviv as a club with the potential to be a stable participant and build a strong roster.
