Maccabi Tel Aviv Set for Derby Final, With Short Roster Likely Intact

Maccabi Tel Aviv reached the Israeli Basketball Premier League final for the fourth straight season on Friday, beating Hapoel Holon 89-61 in Game 3 to complete a 3-0 sweep of the semifinal series. Oded Kattash’s team will open a best-of-five final against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Tuesday, and Maccabi will have home-court advantage as it seeks a 12th playoff-final win in 12 series against its cross-city rival.

Club officials admitted after the win that the short rotation used against Holon is unlikely to expand for the final. GUR Lavy is not expected to play again this season and also is not likely to be included in Israel’s squad for the July World Cup qualifying window. Tamir Blatt has a small calf muscle tear and is expected to recover only shortly after the series ends, though Maccabi plans to keep trying to get him fit and will re-evaluate him toward the end of next week.

If Blatt cannot play, Maccabi will again need to register both of its foreign point guards, Iffe Lundberg and Jimmy Clark, who returned to action on Friday. Oshae Brissett and Jaylen Hoard are also considered secure selections, while the coaching staff is expected to keep an additional big man behind Roman Sorkin, likely Zach Hankins, who was strong against Holon. That would mean Loonie Walker is not expected to be in the registered roster at least for the start of the final, though the club did not completely rule out a surprise inclusion.

On the court, Maccabi struggled for a half before pulling away. Holon cut the lead to four early in the second half, but Maccabi then turned up the pace and got major minutes from Clark and Hankins. Clark said after the game, “It feels great, especially to be with these guys, these coaches and this organization. I’m glad I was on the floor.” He added that he was ready mentally and expects to be prepared for the final, saying, “We’re playing with the mentality that the next man has to step up and give everything.”