Maccabi readies for the season's first Tel Aviv Derby
07/12/2024
HOME·News Archive· Maccabi readies for the season's first Tel Aviv Derby
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will host Hapoel Tel Aviv on Sunday for the first derby of the 2024/25 season. This is expected to be the first game of the season with a full arena.
The team returned on Friday afternoon from a double EuroLeague week in Belgrade, and on Saturday evening, the staff and players gathered for an intense training session. "I understand all the excitement around the derby, and the anticipation, and I really hope it stays at a sporting level—this is more important than anything," emphasized coach Oded Kattash.
"Hapoel Tel Aviv is a really good team, you can define this game as a high-level EuroLeague game in every respect," the coach said about the city rivals. "We’re less concerned about who’s the favorite. It will be a basketball game against a good team and good players on the court."
"It’s been a tough week for us, and the focus now is on the derby since the game on Thursday ended. We know the importance of this game for the team, the fans, and the club," said captain John DiBartolomeo. "It’s a challenge, but I’m excited. This is the kind of game that, as a professional, you want to play in."
Jake Cohen was asked about the significance of the game in light of Maccabi’s last two championships, which were won in final series against Hapoel: "It’s going to be a tough game. What happened in the past has no effect on what will happen this time. They are a very good team, and we are a very good team as well. There will be good energy, and I’m excited to play in front of a full arena here in Tel Aviv."
The city rivals have won all seven of their games so far in the Israeli League, but have already been defeated in four EuroCup games. Greek coach Dimitris Itoudis recently took over as head coach, with Stefanos Dedas taking a step back to an assistant coach position.
Marcus Bingham, who recently arrived from Hapoel Holon, is averaging 16.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Jonathan Motley (15), Marcus Foster (14.6), Bruno Caboclo (12.4), and Patrick Beverley (10 points and 4 assists) are also contributing in double figures.
Recently, Yam Madar also joined the team, adding to a packed backcourt that includes Bar Timor, Joe Ragland, Noam Yaakov, Guy Palatin, Patrick Beverley, and Antonio Blakeney. In the forward positions, there are also Oz Blayzer, Ish Wainright, and Tomer Ginat.
In the 132 meetings between the two clubs so far, Maccabi leads with 96 wins to 36 losses. In games hosted by Maccabi, the record stands at 58-10, with the first meeting taking place in July 1953 in the first season of the league in Israel. Back then, it ended 51-37 in favor of Maccabi, with 20 points from Avraham Shneor. The most recent encounter was, of course, in Game 3 of the last championship series—88-82 to Maccabi that secured the 57th championship title.
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv delivered a big performance and reminded everyone who are the champions, beating Hapoel Tel Aviv 79-97 in the first derby of 2024/25. In front of a full arena – for the first time this season – Jaylen Hoard led the Yellows with a 26-point performance against his former team, and Oded Kattash’s squad handed the city rivals their first loss of the season in the league.
In a repeat of last season's finals series, and without the injured Jasiel Rivero and the ill David DeJulius, Maccabi showed dominance and led for most of the game. Hoard drew energy from the chants against him from the opposing fans and delivered his best performance in the Maccabi uniform, bringing the crowd into a frenzy.
Rokas Jokubaitis was also instrumental with 18 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds. Roman Sorkin, Levi Randolph, Tamir Blatt, Wayne Gabriel, Marial Shayok, and John DiBartolomeo all contributed with key minutes, and the reigning champs pulled away and celebrated in style.
The Maccabees will now head into a demanding schedule, with another home game against Hapoel Haifa on Tuesday, a road game in Munich vs. Bayern on Thursday and a visit to Holon on Saturday.