Hapoel Tel Aviv Reaches the Basketball League Final

Hapoel Tel Aviv completed its semifinal series against Hapoel Jerusalem on Thursday night with an 81-89 win at Menora Mivtachim Arena, sealing a place in the Israeli Basketball Premier League playoff final. The result came only hours after Hapoel Tel Aviv had also received a technical victory, which helped tip the series in its favor.

The win was especially significant because Jerusalem had beaten Hapoel Tel Aviv in four of their five previous home games at the team’s temporary home venue, including two this season, in league play and in the State Cup quarterfinals. This time, Hapoel Tel Aviv finally stopped that pattern and advanced at Jerusalem’s expense.

Hapoel Tel Aviv was led by its two guards, Yam Madar and Micic, while Jerusalem’s leading guard, Harper, was below his best. Jerusalem entered the third game of the semifinal series having already lost twice and hoping to repeat its 2016/17 comeback, when it recovered from a 2-0 deficit against Nahariya on the way to its second championship. That comeback did not materialize.

The result sends Hapoel Tel Aviv back to the playoff final after a one-year absence. The club, which reached the EuroLeague quarterfinals for the first time in its history this season but has yet to win a trophy, could now chase its first league championship. It is likely to face city rival Maccabi Tel Aviv, which is expected to reach the final after taking a 2-0 semifinal lead over Hapoel Holon.