A Tel Aviv derby will take place in the Winner Cup final on November 9 at Holon Arena, after Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 88-71 in the Israeli Classico and Hapoel Tel Aviv edged Ness Ziona 79-76 in the semifinals.
Maccabi overcame a one-point halftime deficit with a dominant second half, as Oshae Brissett and Iffe Lundberg helped Oded Katash’s squad pull away from Jerusalem and book its place in the final.
Brissett led Maccabi with 17 points, while Roman Sorkin added 16, Lundberg scored 14, and Jaylen Hoard finished with 13. Jerusalem was led by Kenny Lofton Jr. with 16 points and Shake Milton with 14, while Devontae Cacok and David Roddy each scored 12.
“I’m very happy with the win after a double week, both from the physical and mental standpoint,” Katash said. “I’m happy that the guys had the energy, and that was also due to the fans that we miss so much in the Euroleague.”
“We still need to start off games well. Jerusalem has built a very good team and was very tough with large guards. I hope that this win will also help us with our confidence.”
Jerusalem coach: Maccabi’s physicality, depth proved decisive
Jerusalem coach Sasa Obradovic acknowledged that Maccabi’s physicality and depth ultimately proved decisive.
“Maccabi deserved to win,” Obradovic said. “While we played well in the first half, in the second half their quality came out.”
“This game showed where we are. Maccabi was a physical team, and tactically they did a good job choosing which guys could break the game. Lundberg, Clark and Brissett hurt us the most.”
Sorkin said the victory was particularly important given that Maccabi was playing for a place in a championship game.
“Jerusalem is an aggressive, quality team. We struggled, but we played well,” Sorkin said. “We needed this win. It’s the start of the season, and we’re learning a process. We need to improve from game to game and learn day by day because we don’t have many practices. It’s a game for a title, and if we had lost here in the semifinal, we would have gone home.”
Hapoel Tel Aviv defeats Ness Ziona
Hapoel Tel Aviv then earned its place in the final with a hard-fought victory over Ness Ziona.
Anthony Blakeney led the way with 21 points, while Ish Wainright and Eugene German each scored 17. Josh Christopher paced Nes Ziona with 17 points, Jackson Rowe added 14, and Vincent Amsellem scored 11.
Hapoel coach Dimitrios Itoudis was pleased to reach the final following a demanding Euroleague double week.
“We wanted to get to the final, and we are happy about that,” Itoudis said. “Ness Ziona made a very good effort to build a team, and we knew that they would be very competitive.”
Blakeney, who came up big down the stretch, made no secret about whom he wanted to face in the final.
“I want to play Maccabi, obviously,” Blakeney said. “We have to get them back. They beat us badly. We think about it every day.”
That wish has now been granted, setting up the first Tel Aviv Derby of the season with the Winner Cup title on the line.
See more Israeli sports coverage at www.sportsrabbi.com/en