Maccabi Tel Aviv sets up derby final after beating Holon, Katz says defense will decide

Maccabi Tel Aviv reached the Israeli playoff final on Sunday with a 89-61 win over Hapoel Holon in Game 3, and will open a best-of-five title series against city rival Hapoel Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Despite being without Tamir Blatt, the yellow team dominated the second half, including a superb defensive third quarter in which Holon scored only nine points.

Jimmy Clark returned to the lineup and delivered 14 points and eight assists, but Lonnie Walker was again left out after missing the first game because of the security situation and sitting out the second as well. Blatt is unlikely to play in the first final, while Maccabi also kept Walker off the roster as the staff chose to dress foreign players in the frontcourt, especially with Goor Lavy sidelined by knee injuries and T.J. Leaf already lost earlier in the season. Jalen Hoard stayed in excellent form with 17 points and seven rebounds.

Clark said he was glad to be back and ready mentally for the final, adding that Maccabi must be prepared for whatever role is needed. He said, “We are entering this series at 0-0,” and noted that Maccabi beat Hapoel Tel Aviv once in the regular season, but “in the playoffs it is different.” He also said the matchup should be a strong one because both clubs have major organizations and good coaches.

Coach Oded Katash said he was proud of the way Maccabi swept Holon and praised his team’s ability to adjust during the series despite injuries, rotations and the war. He said Maccabi won games through defense, rebounding and size, pointing out that they out-rebounded Holon by 10 to 15 boards in each game. Looking ahead to Hapoel Tel Aviv, he said the rivals built a roster “for these things,” meaning titles, but stressed that Maccabi must rely on defense, intensity and consistency to win the championship.

Holon’s season also came to an end, after a turbulent campaign that included coaching changes from Danny Franco to Yoav Shamir and then Predrag Krunic. Krunic stabilized the team after the war resumed and guided it to a fifth-place finish, which gives Holon direct entry to the Basketball Champions League group stage for a 10th straight season. The foreign roster is expected to be almost completely rebuilt, with only Adama Sanogo possibly staying, though his contract includes a $250,000 buyout that rises to $500,000 if one of the Tel Aviv clubs or Hapoel Jerusalem wants him. On the Israeli side, Yair Kravitz and Lior Carreira are valued, while captain Nataniel Artzi is unlikely to remain, and center Idan Zalmanson is uncertain. Holon also hopes to bring back guard Shahar Amir.