Maccabi Tel Aviv completes stunning 23-point comeback to win Winner Cup

Maccabi Tel Aviv secured the Winner Cup title on November 10 with a dramatic 86-75 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv. The yellow-and-blue squad claimed the first piece of silverware of the season after executing a remarkable turnaround from a deep hole late in the contest.

The game began in Maccabi's favor, with Jaylen Hoard and Jimmy Clark leading the offense. Oded Katash's team built a 26-17 lead by the end of the first quarter. However, Hapoel adjusted in the second period. Khadeen Carrington found his range, and Eugene German became a threat from beyond the arc. German drained five three-pointers in the second quarter alone, propelling Dimitrios Itoudis's team to a 44-36 halftime advantage.

Hapoel extended its lead early in the third quarter, shutting down Maccabi's offense for the first seven minutes of the half. German and Tai Odiase continued to score, pushing the deficit to 23 points. At one point, the score stood at 59-36, making the game appear decided in favor of the Reds.

The momentum shifted as Maccabi's second half began. Daniel Theis, Keaton Wallace, and Clark sparked a furious rally that reduced the gap to 11 points heading into the final quarter. Wallace opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, followed immediately by back-to-back threes from Clark. Theis added a dunk, and Clark hit another long-range shot to give Maccabi a 65-64 lead midway through the frame.

From that point, Maccabi never trailed again. Wallace and Clark continued to score from the perimeter, while Hoard contributed key baskets. Wallace hit a final long-range shot to seal the victory. Clark finished with a game-high 24 points and was named the tournament MVP. Theis and Wallace each added 16 points for the winners. For Hapoel, German led the team with 26 points in a losing effort.

Head coach Oded Katash praised his team's character after the match. He noted that while the team struggled with simple plays and lost focus for a critical five-minute stretch, they ultimately deserved the win. Katash expressed happiness for the club and its fans following a challenging recent period.

Conversely, Hapoel coach Dimitrios Itoudis expressed disappointment at surrendering such a commanding lead. He cited turnovers and missed free throws as key factors in the collapse. Itoudis stated that the team needed to use the next game as a redemption opportunity to bring joy to their supporters.

MVP Jimmy Clark credited the team's collective belief for completing the comeback. He explained that despite the tough season, the players stayed focused and fought hard in crucial moments. Clark emphasized the mutual trust among the roster members that allowed them to overcome the deficit.

Hapoel's Khadeen Carrington acknowledged the pain of the loss but urged the team to focus on their upcoming Euroleague matchup against Maccabi on Thursday. He described the second-half performance as a failed recovery after a strong start, noting that the next game would be a different contest entirely.

In other Israeli League action, Hapoel Jerusalem remained unbeaten with a 65-59 win over Hapoel HaEmek. Kenny Lofton Jr. scored 13 points for Jerusalem, while CJ Elleby led HaEmek with 15. Coach Sasa Obradovic expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance despite the victory, noting that they had given their opponents too easy a start.