Maccabi Tel Aviv downed Hapoel Holon 82-75 to punch their ticket to the Winner Cup final where they will play Maccabi Ramat Gan in a game slated for next Saturday night, October 5th. Marcus Bingham put his mark on the game early on for the purples but by the end of the first quarter the yellow-and-blue led by Rokas Jokubaitis and Jaylen Hoard along with Jordan Loyd put Oded Katash’s crew in front for good as they eased into the title match.

Rivero scored 15, Loyd had 14 points and Hoard added 13 points. Bingham scored 24 points and Adams chipped in with 16 points in the loss.

“The feeling is that we take something from every game. We are trying to build a way to play better and it doesn’t happen overnight. We were missing multiple practices as Hoard was hurt and we will have to gel while winning and while staying competitive,” Maccabi coach Oded Katash said.

“Congrats to Maccabi, we had some injuries coming into the game so we knew the chances were low that we would come away with the win. Ran Solomon showed heart off the bench for us and I was happy that the team fought until the end.”

Jaylen Hoard looked back on the game, “I tried to bring energy and we’re still getting used to the system. I feel good. We had a good prep, we played good teams and I feel like we’re ready. We need to watch film and get our offense and defense ready for the upcoming game.”

Marcus Bingham said, “Today’s game was fun as we got the challenge against a Euroleague team and it was a good challenge to get ready for the BCL.”

Marcus Bingham was a one man wrecking crew for Hapoel Holon to begin the game, Jordan Loyd responded for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Jalen Adams started scoring for the purples as well, Rokas Jokubaitis and Jaylen Hoard scored back-to-back baskets while both then added 3-point plays to give the yellow-and-blue a 22-17 lead after ten minutes of play.

Michale Kyser began the second quarter with points off an acrobatic layup, Roman Sorkin scored from the outside and inside, Blatt fed Hoard for a bucket in the paint and Loyd went from deep, Hoard dunked and Blatt dialled up long distance to bump up Maccabi’s lead to 40-25 midway through the period. Adams and Loyd traded 3-pointers, Loyd then drilled home a long deuce, Yotam Hanochi pulled a couple of points back while Bingham and Levi Randolph each scored for their respective teams as Oded Katash’s squad grabbed a 51-36 advantage at halftime.

Bingham scored to get the second half underway, Sorkin put in a pair of baskets, Blatt went from downtown, Bingham with a 3-point play and 3-pointer kept the heat on Maccabi but Hoard, Jokubaitis and Rivero all scored in succession while Jokubatis ended the frame with a steal and dunk to keep Maccabi in front 66-54 after thirty minutes of action.

John Dibartolomeo started off the fourth quarter from downtown, Blatt dropped a long deuce and Dibartolomeo added yet another triple, Adams and Solomon responded, Dakarai Tucker put in a 3-point play, Maccabi hit their free throws down the stretch, and secured the win.