Full Breakdown
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv Secure Victories in Euroleague Action
1/18/2026, 10:46:40 PM
Maccabi Tel Aviv Triumphs Over Zalgiris
Maccabi Tel Aviv achieved a narrow victory against Zalgiris Kaunas, winning 100-97 in a Euroleague match held at Yad Eliyahu Arena. The game, attended by over 10,000 fans, saw Maccabi improve its record to 9-13. The match featured a competitive first half, with Maccabi leading 27-24 after the first quarter and maintaining a slim 52-49 advantage at halftime. Key players for Maccabi included Roman Sorkin, TJ Leaf, and Tre Clark, each contributing 17 points. Zalgiris's Sylvain Francisco led his team with 22 points, supported by Moses Wright and Laurynas Birutis.
Maccabi's head coach, Oded Katash, praised the team's effort, stating, “Great win for us, and it was a team effort... I was really happy with the body language that we showed in the win.” In contrast, Zalgiris head coach Tomas Masiulis expressed disappointment, noting, “Tough game and tough loss for us... we let them score a lot of points.”
Home Court Advantage
Sorkin emphasized the importance of the home crowd, describing the atmosphere as energizing: “Just being home is so much fun... it’s like the sixth player for us.” Leaf echoed this sentiment, highlighting the crowd's role in their performance: “Without that, I’m not sure how that game ends.” The players' reflections underscore the significant impact of fan support on their gameplay.
Hapoel Tel Aviv's Comeback Victory in France
In another Euroleague matchup, Hapoel Tel Aviv secured an 81-73 victory against ASVEL Villeurbanne in France, maintaining their position atop the standings with a 15-6 record. After trailing 38-31 at halftime, Hapoel mounted a comeback led by Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu, who scored 17 and 18 points, respectively. Hapoel's coach, Dimitrios Itoudis, commended his team's resilience, stating, “We had to change things drastically at halftime... The team reacted, and I appreciate that.”
ASVEL's coach, Pierric Poupet, acknowledged Hapoel's superior performance in the second half, saying, “They were better than us and showed more talent in the end.”
Looking Ahead
Both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv will aim to build on their recent successes in upcoming Euroleague fixtures. The victories not only reflect their current standings but also highlight the critical role of teamwork and home support in achieving success on the court.
