Maccabi Tel Aviv Secures First EuroLeague Victory Against Armani Milano; Hapoel Tel Aviv Falls to Valencia

In the match against Milano, Maccabi started strong with Jaylen Hoard and Yam Madar contributing early points, while Moses Wright led Milano’s response. Key performances from Iffe Lundberg, Daniel Theis, and Bonzie Colson helped Maccabi maintain their lead throughout the game. Madar scored 17 points, with Hoard and Colson adding 13 each, and Roman Sorkin contributing 12. Wright was the standout for Milano, scoring 23 points in the loss.

Maccabi coach Oded Katash highlighted the importance of the win, stating that it helped rebuild the team’s confidence after a difficult start. He praised the players’ body language and aggression, noting that their play improved in the second half.

MVP Madar expressed satisfaction with the victory, emphasizing that it was crucial for the team's morale after starting the season 0-3. He mentioned the team's focus on correcting mistakes and learning from previous games.

Meanwhile, Hapoel Tel Aviv faced Valencia in Spain but fell short with a score of 93-82. Antonio Blakeney scored 30 points but could not secure a win amid a challenging first quarter for Hapoel. Following this, coach Dimitrios Itoudis acknowledged the team's lack of defensive balance against a strong Valencia side. Hapoel now heads into a challenging EuroLeague double week, facing Besiktas and Panathinaikos.

The match highlighted Valencia's dominance, with a strong start that included contributions from TJ Shorts and Kameron Taylor, who helped establish a 29-17 lead after the first quarter. Despite Hapoel’s efforts to close the gap, Valencia maintained control, finishing the third quarter ahead 74-55. Alongside Blakeney, Hapoel's Bryan contributed 12 points, while Taylor led Valencia's scoring with 27 points, supported by Shorts with 15 and Josep Puerto with 11.