This was unlike any other derby from the recent past, with Hapoel Tel Aviv entering the contest as the clear favorites over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Hapoel defeated host Maccabi 85-80 in a dramatic Tel Aviv derby that saw superb shooting, clutch baskets, and all-around great play from both teams, but it was the Reds who came out on top as Antonio Blakeney’s late sharpshooting helped Dimitrios Itoudis’s team take the victory.
Hapoel’s Johnathan Motley and Maccabi’s Roman Sorkin battled down low game-long. At the same time, Tyler Ennis and Tamir Blatt did the same on the perimeter, but key baskets by Elijah Bryant at the end of the third quarter and Blakeney’s incredible baskets from long distance made the difference as time wound down to help Hapoel to the win.
Motley scored 20 points, Blakeney added 19 points, and Bryant put in 16 points for the Reds, while Sorkin scored 26 points and Blatt put in 14 points for the yellow-and-blue.
This was unlike any other derby from the recent past, with Hapoel Tel Aviv entering the contest as the clear favorites over Maccabi Tel Aviv despite the yellow-and-blue having defeated the Reds in a Euroleague clash back in October.
Unlike the soccer derby that never began due to the police calling the match off after a fireworks, flares, and smoke grenades display ruined what was going to be a thrilling evening for close to 30,000 fans, the basketball version went off without a hitch.
Hapoel and Maccabi face off in Tel Aviv derby
Neither team had their most heralded offseason signings, with Vasilije Micic and Lonnie Walker not listed for this contest to the surprise and dismay of many. But regardless of the two “superstars” not being available, once the ball went up, the fans forgot all about who wasn’t playing.
Bar Timor, Antonio Blakeney, and Johnathan Motley all scored for Hapoel Tel Aviv to start the game, while Sorkin, Jeff Dowti,n and Jaylen Hoard responded for Maccabi Tel Aviv/
Ennis found points as did Blatt, Motley put down a pair of dunks while Marcio Santos put in a 3-point play to give the visitors a slim 25-23 lead after 10 minutes of play.
Motley controlled the Hapoel offense in the opening quarter after he had not been dressed for the Winner Cup final last week when Hapoel Jerusalem took the title. Motley played a significant role last season in helping the club win the EuroCup and is an asset for Itoudis when he’s on the court.
Santos and TJ Leaf got the second quarter underway, forcing Itoudis to call for a timeout. Ennis hit a pair from deep but was then hit with his third foul on a questionable call, but Hapoel took the ball hard to the hoop and got calls of their own with Bryant scoring to tie the game up at 35-35 midway through the period.
Oturu scored in the paint, Oshae Brissett and Motley traded triples, Sorkin hit a jumper and added an uncontested layup, as did Dowtin, while Blatt hit a three to end the first half with Maccabi in front 49-41.
Itoudis’s Israeli contingent rarely plays in the EuroLeague, but in the local competition, there’s no choice: one has to be on the court at all times. There has been talk that this was going to be an issue in this derby, with Maccabi’s Israelis playing a much bigger role in Europe, and that Hapoel would have some problems adjusting.
This would be due to the likes of Sorkin, Blatt, and Leaf perhaps playing better and more significant minutes than Timor, Guy Palatin, and Oz Blayzer. But Maccabi has even more Israeli depth with John DiBartolomeo, Will Rayman, and Gur Lavi earning plenty of playing time. In fact, in the first half alone, Maccabi’s Israelis outscored Hapoel’s 24-6, demonstrating the difference and impact that they can make on the floor.
Sorkin was dominant in the second quarter, dunking with ease, hitting wide open jumpers as well as blocking both of the Reds’ big men – Oturu and Motley – as well as grabbing one board after the next. Sorkin has been a key cog for Oded Katash this season as he keeps improving by leaps and bounds. Over the summer, Sorkin has been even rumoured to be heading to the NBA, as he had impressed many scouts at the EuroBasket group stages in Poland.
But thankfully for Katash and Maccabi, he’s still in yellow-and-blue making a difference in the first half of the derby with a dozen points to lead all players in scoring.
Oturu scored inside and Blakeney hit from deep to open the third quarter, before Sorkin answered at the other end. Blatt and Ennis traded triples, Motley worked in the paint, Bryant connected from downtown, Santos added points and another Motley three, while a pair of Bryant free throws pulled Hapoel to within one (62-61) after 30 minutes.
Playing in his first Tel Aviv derby for Hapoel at Yad Eliyahu, Elijah Bryant – quiet in the first half – made his presence felt in the third. The former Maccabi guard helped drag the Reds back from a double-digit deficit with his smooth scoring from all three levels. He’s been pouring in points for Hapoel in the Euroleague this season, so his Israeli league eruption was hardly a surprise.
Blakeney opened the fourth with a triple, Sorkin answered inside and then from deep, Hoard hammered home a dunk, Ennis scored a layup, Motley dunked, and Blakeney hit again to make it 73-72 with 3:14 left. Dowtin drilled a jumper, Motley scored inside, Blakeney and Sorkin traded threes, Bryant and Blakeney both struck from long range, and after Dowtin missed, Motley’s dunk sealed the Derby win for the Reds.
And you can never count out a team with Antonio Blakeney. “AB,” or “Automatic Bucket,” delivered 11 points in the final frame, including two massive threes in crunch time – first to tie it at 77-77, then to give Hapoel the lead for good at 83-80. Blakeney saved the night and delivered Hapoel fans the sweetest prize of all: a derby win over Maccabi.
