History was made Wednesday night in Sofia, Bulgaria, as the first-ever Euroleague derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv delivered all the intensity and emotion one could expect from basketball’s fiercest city rivalry – even 1,600 kilometers from home.
In the end, it was Maccabi that rose to the occasion, pulling away late for a 103–90 victory behind a fourth-quarter explosion that turned a tense battle into a statement win.
For much of the night, the two Israeli powerhouses traded blows in a high-paced, physical encounter that felt like a microcosm of their long-standing rivalry. Though Hapoel came in unbeaten and full of confidence after two impressive victories to open their debut Euroleague campaign, it was Maccabi – still searching for its first win after a rough 0-2 start – which showed greater poise when it mattered most.
The game, officially designated as a Hapoel home fixture, was moved to Sofia due to ongoing security restrictions preventing Euroleague games from being played in Israel. That relocation did nothing to dampen the competitive fire. Both teams came out determined, matching each other basket for basket through three quarters before Maccabi erupted in the final ten minutes.
With the score tight at 72–70 entering the fourth, Maccabi guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. – who had been invisible until then – suddenly took over. The American point guard drilled three straight three-pointers off Hapoel turnovers, sparking a stunning 13-0 run that broke the game open. By the time the dust settled, Maccabi led by double digits and never looked back. Dowtin finished with 13 points, all of them coming in a dazzling final stretch that silenced any doubts about his Euroleague readiness.
Lonnie Walker IV led the way with 20 points on an efficient 7-for-13 shooting night, while fellow NBA veteran Oshae Brissett added 19 and provided relentless energy on both ends. Jalen Hoard contributed 13, Roman Sorkin had 12, and Tamir Blatt – who ran the offense with calm and precision – tallied 11 points and seven assists. Maccabi shot a blistering 58% from beyond the arc (14-of-24), a massive leap from their earlier struggles this season.
A sobering first loss
For Hapoel, it was a sobering first loss after a dream 2-0 start to its Euroleague journey. Elijah Bryant, who spent two seasons with Maccabi, led his new club with 18 points against his former teammates. Antonio Blakeney added 16, Dan Oturu 15, and star guard Vasilije Micić finished with 14 – but also committed six costly turnovers, several of which fueled Maccabi’s decisive run.
“Everyone was asking how badly we’d lose the derby,” a smiling Maccabi staff member said afterward. “We showed character. Nobody in that locker room ever stopped believing.”
Head coach Oded Katash, who has been under scrutiny after a sluggish start to the season and four consecutive losses including preseason play, praised his team’s focus and resilience.
“We talked all week about composure,” Katash said. “The players stayed locked in, and that’s what made the difference tonight.”
Within the Maccabi organization, there was quiet satisfaction – and a bit of vindication. Critics had questioned the team’s roster construction, its lack of European experience, and the absence of a true playmaking center. But on this night, everything clicked. The team’s athleticism, ball movement, and defensive effort finally came together in the way management envisioned when assembling the squad over the summer.
“We know we haven’t won anything yet,” one team official cautioned. “It’s just one victory – but an important one. We showed we can play at this level, and we did it in a derby everyone said we’d lose.”
For the fans – those who traveled, those watching from afar, and those longing for the day when European games return to Israel – the win was about more than standings. It was about pride. In an unprecedented matchup that transcended sport, Maccabi reminded everyone why the yellow-and-blue remain the benchmark of Israeli basketball.
As the final buzzer sounded and players embraced on the court, there was a sense that the night’s outcome might carry weight far beyond a single result. Maccabi improved to 1-2 in Euroleague play, while Hapoel sits at 2-1. The two clubs will meet again later this season, and that rematch – whenever and wherever it takes place – already feels destined to be another chapter in what could become one of European basketball’s most compelling new rivalries.
For now, Maccabi heads into a grueling double-week against Barcelona and Olympiacos with renewed confidence. And for one night at least, in a foreign arena that felt like neutral ground, the colors of Tel Aviv shone brightest in yellow.