Maccabi Tel Aviv Dominates Rival Hapoel Tel Aviv in Winner Cup Final

Maccabi Tel Aviv secured their second title of the season, defeating city rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Winner Cup basketball final. This victory follows their earlier Super Cup win and avenges a recent league loss to Hapoel.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, coached by Oded Katash, reached the Winner Cup final after a one-year absence. They previously won the trophy in 2024, marking their 11th title, and have now extended their record to 12 wins, though they have also lost five finals.

Hapoel Tel Aviv, coached by Dimitris Itoudis, appeared in the final for the second consecutive year, having lost to Hapoel Jerusalem last season. This was their third appearance in the final overall, and they are still seeking their first Winner Cup title. Hapoel's last domestic title was the State Cup in 1993.

The rivalry between the two Tel Aviv clubs was highlighted, with Maccabi having won three consecutive championships against Hapoel. This was the second time they met in the Winner Cup final; Maccabi won the first encounter in October 2022 after overtime. Since the 1968/69 season, when Hapoel won a double including a victory over Maccabi, Maccabi has dominated finals, holding a 0-18 record against Hapoel in championship or cup finals, excluding the recent Super Cup win. Shimon Mizrahi has served as Chairman of Maccabi Tel Aviv for over 57 years, during which Hapoel has not won a title against them.