Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv Face Off in High-Stakes Winner Cup Final
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv clash in the Winner Cup final in Holon. Maccabi enters the derby in a deep slump, while Hapoel targets its first domestic title since 1993.
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv will face each other tomorrow, Monday at 20:55, in the Winner Cup final at the Toto Hall in Holon. The press conference ahead of the derby took place today, marking the second encounter between the teams within nine days ahead of another upcoming EuroLeague clash on Thursday.
Last week's league meeting ended with a decisive 105:87 victory for Hapoel at the Menora Mivtachim Arena, during an evening where Vasilije Micic starred with 31 points and Hapoel matched its club record with 19 three-pointers. Although the Reds lost to Barcelona in their latest EuroLeague fixture, they remain in an excellent position to capture their first domestic title since the State Cup in 1993. On the other side, the yellow-and-blue are mired in a deep crisis with six consecutive losses across all competitions and a genuine fear of losing a title to their city rival.
Maccabi Seeking Momentum Amid Crisis
Maccabi Tel Aviv enters the match in the midst of a major slump, having failed to secure a victory since Iffe Lundberg's injury while still searching for a replacement. The club has pursued numerous options without success recently. The team hopes hard work in training will translate into a derby win tomorrow, with Daniel Theis potentially registered for domestic play for the first time. While unregistered in the league so far, Theis is eligible to play in the Winner Cup without costing Maccabi a league registration slot.
Hapoel Tel Aviv boasts strong league form despite back-to-back EuroLeague losses that narrowed the gap with the upper echelon. The Reds landed in Israel early Friday and prepared thoroughly. Hapoel may also register Zach LeDay for the match, granting tactical flexibility to utilize key foreign players - Vasilije Micic, Elijah Bryant, and Antonio Blakeney - together.
Coaches and Captains Speak Out
Maccabi head coach Oded Kattash addressed the team's struggles: "We are in a difficult period, and the memory of the last derby is still on our minds. This match is a great opportunity to return to winning ways; we owe it to our fans and ourselves. We are doing our absolute best to look much better, though not with great success just yet. With all the fatigue and missing pieces, we struggle a bit, but maintaining confidence is crucial. Both teams possess deep and talented rosters."
Maccabi captain John DiBartolomeo added: "Everyone knows our momentum is poor, but this is a prime opportunity to change it. We had bad luck and these are not the results we wanted. It feels like a crisis, but it is only November. This is the first trophy of the season."
Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis noted: "There are no surprises here; we want to bring a trophy to our fans and owners. We will face an excellent team, and every derby is different. The winner tomorrow will be the side that truly wants it more."
Hapoel captain Bar Timor concluded: "This is a very important game for the club and the fans. It is an official title and a vital test, especially in a derby. We want to win and claim silverware."
