Maccabi Tel Aviv Secures Crucial EuroLeague Victory Over Rival Hapoel

Maccabi Tel Aviv achieved a significant EuroLeague win, defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv 80-73 in their third derby clash in just 12 days. This victory ended a four-game losing streak for Maccabi in the competition, improving their record to 8-3 and moving them up to 17th place in the standings. It marked their second consecutive win against their city rivals within three days.

The team expressed satisfaction not only with the result but also with the manner of the victory, noting the difficulty of achieving consecutive wins against the same opponent in such a short period. Coach Oded Kattash highlighted the team's character and resilience, stating, "We showed character, this win was more impressive." He acknowledged the challenges posed by Hapoel Tel Aviv's roster and their own guard shortages but praised the players for sticking to the game plan, adding, "The problems are not solved, but we choose to focus on what we have."

Maccabi's professional staff were pleased with the players' desire, fight, and improved defensive performance. They felt the team applied more pressure and maintained good intensity, demonstrating composure in crucial moments. The focus now is on continuing this defensive improvement.

The derby was Maccabi's first game played in Limassol, Cyprus, their temporary home venue for EuroLeague games until they can return to playing in Israel. Over 1,000 fans attended, creating a supportive atmosphere that significantly boosted player morale. The club noted that the conditions and atmosphere in Cyprus were superior to those experienced during their previous games in Belgrade, Serbia.

Players Jimmy Clark and Bonzie Colson led Maccabi's scoring with 14 points each. Clark also contributed 4 assists but had 6 turnovers, while Colson added 5 rebounds. Daniel Theis scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Colson commented on the team's character, saying, "As a team we showed a lot of character. We had injuries in the game... this is a great win for us. We need to continue this momentum."

Yam Madar was instrumental with 10 points and 7 assists, despite 4 turnovers. Madar sustained an injury to his face during a collision with Vasilije Micić, resulting in a nosebleed and requiring medical attention. He returned to play multiple times after treatment. Madar described the wins as "very, very important for us as a team, especially during the difficult period we went through," and expressed hope that this marks a step in the right direction.

Maccabi will aim to build on this momentum with a double-header week in the EuroLeague, facing Olympiacos on Tuesday and Dubai on Thursday. Before that, they will play Hapoel Jerusalem in the Israeli league.