Maccabi Tel Aviv wins League Cup

In preparation for one of the most important seasons of its history, Maccabi Tel Aviv capped its pre-season with a 93-79 to win the Israel Basketball League Cup. It is important simply because the Tel Aviv giant no longer finds itself the undisputed juggernaut of Israeli hoops.

Indeed, the club has failed to win the league in three seasons, a remarkable stat for an organization that has won 51 domestic titles. The three-year drought is the longest Maccabi Tel Aviv has had to endure and the club will be desperate to put that right this season.

The State Cup champs avoided reigning league champs Hapoel Jerusalem and eased into the final to play against Ironi Nahariya. In the finale, the EuroLeague giant claimed a comfortable, if never out or sight, 93-79 win.

The path to victory was laid in the first quarter with a 22-15 run that handed the favorites a 7-points lead. In the second act, Maccabi kept scoring consistently and used a 27-21 period to lead 49-36 through halftime. A 24-21 third act all but killed the game and handed Maccabi Tel Aviv a 73-57 lead through thirty minutes. Nahariya restored pride with a winning fourth quarter, but never managed to get back into the contest.

Certainly worth a mention is the Tel Aviv club extending its record as the winningest League Cup winner with 7 titles.