Maccabi Tel Aviv Completes Stunning Comeback to Win Winner Cup

Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a dramatic 86-75 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Winner Cup final, erasing a 23-point deficit in one of the team's most impressive comebacks in recent years. This win marks Maccabi's 12th title in the tournament's history and comes after a difficult period, including six consecutive losses across all competitions. The victory occurred just eight days after a derby loss to the same opponent and three days before another encounter in the EuroLeague.

Shimon Mizrahi, Chairman of Maccabi Tel Aviv, expressed his satisfaction, stating, "The most important thing is that today we saw the real Maccabi Tel Aviv. This is the real Maccabi we educate towards. Well done to the players." Coach Oded Katash described the win as "extraordinary," highlighting the team's ability to recover from such a deficit. He noted that while effort wasn't the issue in their recent struggles, execution of simple plays had been problematic. "We had a good first half, both defensively and offensively, but the shots didn't fall during five minutes of offensive lapse," Katash explained, adding that "a little momentum we've been waiting for for a long time" eventually led to regained confidence and successful shooting.

Katash also discussed tactical adjustments, including a switch to three guards and a different spacing, along with defensive changes, which helped capitalize on the momentum and the players' character. He mentioned that players like Kithon Wallace and Daniel Theis contributed significantly, with Wallace needing minutes to adapt to a different style of basketball and Theis needing to regain fitness. Looking ahead, Katash acknowledged an upcoming EuroLeague game against the same opponent but stated his focus was on processing the current victory. He also expressed hope for the imminent signing of a new guard.

Kithon Wallace, a key player in the comeback, called the win a form of "revenge" but emphasized the team's focus on self-improvement and unity. He dismissed criticism, stating the team needs to continue working hard. "This win can help us a lot, because we were down by 23 points and won by 11. It just proved we have the tools," Wallace said.

Jimmy Clark, named the game's MVP, underscored the team's belief in each other and the importance of the win for the rest of the season. "We have faith in each other. My friends and I are going through a tough season and we know we need to fight and give everything we have," Clark stated. Jalen Hurd echoed these sentiments, hoping the win would provide confidence after a difficult period, and acknowledged his own need to work on self-belief. Roman Sorkin expressed his shock and joy at the unexpected comeback victory.