Watching Vasilije Micic light it up from beyond the arc in a Tel Aviv derby is exactly why we love basketball. It’s why we’re fans and aficionados of the game and why we keep coming back night after night to watch the sport we love.

The biggest stars have a way of rising to the occasion in the biggest games and this Tel Aviv derby was no exception. Micic who reminded everyone of his MVP days with Anadolu EFES, put on a shooting clinic, knocking down one spectacular three-pointer after another as he finished with a remarkable nine triples on his way to 31 points in Hapoel Tel Aviv’s emphatic 105-87 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv at Yad Eliyahu.

It was a night that left the yellow-and-blue faithful shaking their heads, with tensions and infighting among the supporters becoming increasingly visible throughout the arena. But the story on the court was all about Micic and Hapoel’s ability to exploit Maccabi’s defensive shortcomings. Along with contributions from Antonio Blakeney, Tomer Ginat and Tamir Blatt, who made his debut after leaving Maccabi over the summer, the Reds connected on 19 of their 31 attempts from downtown.

Unfortunately for Maccabi, that kind of performance has become all too familiar. The yellow-and-blue have struggled mightily to defend the perimeter in EuroLeague play, repeatedly allowing opponents to pile up three-pointers. Giving up more than 100 points has also become something of a regular occurrence for Oded Katash’s squad this season, as defensive struggles continue to haunt the club.

With that in mind, the game plan for Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis and his staff was relatively straightforward: make Maccabi pay for its inability to defend the perimeter and the opportunities would be there.

That’s exactly what Micic and company did.

The last time these two teams met, Maccabi cruised to a victory in the September Super Cup derby. But that now feels like a lifetime ago. Hapoel has been flying high and sits sixth in the EuroLeague standings with a 6-3 record, while Maccabi finds itself down in 17th place at 2-7.

The Reds are clearly establishing themselves among the competition’s upper echelon, while Maccabi, which has now gone more than two weeks without bringing in a replacement guard following Iffe Lundberg’s injury, continues to slide toward the bottom of the standings with little immediate relief in sight.

But back to Micic, who carved up Maccabi’s defense as beautifully as a Thanksgiving turkey. The Serbian star credited his team’s concentration, composure and improved energy in the first of three derbies scheduled over the first two weeks of November.

“I felt good. I really respect their game and their coach. It’s always a challenge to play against them,” Micic told The Sports Rabbi in the Hapoel locker room after the victory. “I had a good shooting day, but I think we also played with concentration. We were awful on the defensive boards, which is one of their main weapons, but in this kind of game it’s important to stay in it, and we did that today.”

Although Hapoel enjoyed an outstanding night from beyond the arc, Micic dismissed the suggestion that the team had specifically targeted Maccabi’s perimeter defense.

“We were looking for good shots. They have a specific defense that closes a lot of gaps and takes away a lot of room. You have to be ready to shoot and look for opportunities. They’re big and have good coverages, so I don’t think it was something we did purposely.”

Micic and his teammates will have another opportunity to get the better of their city rivals next Monday night, when the two sides meet in the Winner Cup final. Later that week, they will face off once again in a EuroLeague matchup that will be played abroad due to the security situation in Israel.

Should Hapoel sweep all three encounters while continuing its strong European campaign, it would certainly be difficult to dismiss the Reds as legitimate contenders for both the EuroLeague and Israeli League championships. However, Micic was quick to pump the brakes, emphasizing that there is still a long road ahead.

“It’s too early to talk about anything. It’s a long season with so many games, and predicting the future is almost impossible,” he explained. “We’re in our second year together, so things should become more familiar for each player, with some good additions, but it’s still too early.”

One of those new additions is Tamir Blatt, who made his 2026/27 debut against his former team and did what he does best, knocking down shots from long range. Micic had plenty of praise for his new backcourt teammate, who enjoyed an impressive night of his own, going a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown.

“I’ve always respected his game. He’s such a talent, a pure talent, and a humble guy and a good person. He’s a great addition for us, and I wish him the best this season.”

Reflecting on Hapoel’s improved energy compared to its previous meeting with Maccabi, Micic again highlighted the importance of maintaining the right approach and not allowing the Yellow-and-Blue to feed off the home crowd and build momentum.

“Each game is a different story. These games are a lot about approach and immediate attitude. They have tremendous enthusiasm and want to feed off their fans. A lot of players rely on that energy,” he said. “We knew it was important not to let them run and put together those 10-0 or 15-0 runs that can break a team’s spirit. Today we sustained our energy throughout the game.”

While Micic and Hapoel have two more meetings with Maccabi on the horizon, the Serbian star made it clear that his team’s attention is already shifting to Thursday’s EuroLeague showdown with Barcelona. Micic believes the Catalan club deserves considerably more respect than it has been receiving this season and warned that the Reds will have their hands full.

“Barcelona is a very important game. They’re playing really well and have beaten a lot of teams. I think a lot of teams underrate Barca this year. I’ve watched a couple of games and they beat Valencia twice. We have to focus on that game first.”

For Hapoel, the derby victory was another statement of intent. For Micic, it was a reminder of just how special a player he can be when the lights are brightest. And for anyone fortunate enough to be watching, it was exactly the kind of performance that makes basketball so much fun.