When Maccabi Tel Aviv captain John Dibartolomeo hoisted the Winner Cup trophy high above his head after defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv 86-75 in the Derby final, there was not only a huge sigh of relief from the yellow-and-blue, but also a sense of disbelief at what had just unfolded at the Holon Arena.

Few could have imagined that Oded Katash’s squad would walk away with the Winner Cup after trailing Hapoel Tel Aviv 59-36 late in the third quarter. With 3:54 remaining in the period, Dibartolomeo checked into the game following a timeout, with Maccabi staring at a 23-point deficit and seemingly no way back. But the captain wasn’t ready to throw in the towel.

“Oded told us to stay together and stay positive,” Dibartolomeo recalled to The Sports Rabbi when asked what the head coach said during the timeout. “You know, when you’re in a tough spot like that, it’s your only option. You can’t put your head down and quit. So we kept fighting, and we got a little lucky and things started to go our way. It gave us some confidence and some momentum, and we pulled off a really good win.”

By the end of the third quarter, Jimmy Clark, Keaton Wallace and Daniel Theis had already helped cut the deficit to 11 points. They carried that momentum into the fourth, eventually taking the lead for good midway through the period. The trio spearheaded a stunning 32-5 run in less than 10 minutes, turning what had looked like a Hapoel coronation into a memorable Maccabi comeback.

All three players had faced their share of criticism over the previous month, with Wallace, Theis and Clark coming under considerable scrutiny during Maccabi’s difficult start to the season. But in those crucial minutes, they played with freedom, confidence and aggression, seemingly embracing the opportunity to simply go out and play basketball. Whatever was said during that timeout, the message clearly got through.

“We were in a tough spot, and it was a position where we easily could have put our heads down,” Dibartolomeo explained. “But we continued to fight. Keaton, Daniel and Jimmy made some great plays, just countless big plays down the stretch, and it started on the defensive end, which hopefully gives us some confidence going forward.”

The captain also spoke about how the trio has been adjusting to playing alongside one another, singling out Wallace for particular praise.

“These things take time, all good things do. Keaton has a great attitude and a great work ethic. Physically, he can play with anyone. I love his aggressiveness, I love his physicality on defense. The team mentality we have to have is that you keep working hard, you keep the right attitude, and eventually you’re going to break through that wall. I hope tonight gave him the confidence he needs going forward.”

Dibartolomeo finished the game without scoring a single point, but his contributions went far beyond the box score. He recorded four rebounds, three assists and a steal while posting a remarkable +28 plus-minus rating.

In many ways, the captain was one of the biggest reasons Maccabi was able to leave the arena with another trophy, while Hapoel was once again left wondering what might have been after coming so close to getting its hands on the silverware.

“Honestly, it felt great,” Dibartolomeo said. “But you have to keep it in perspective, and we know we still have a lot of work to do. This one was important to us for a lot of reasons. It is technically a pre-season title, but every title matters, every game matters, every derby matters. Also, with the momentum that we’ve had, to come away with a win in that fashion, I’m just incredibly proud of the guys.”

Katash was quick to recognize just how important Dibartolomeo had been to the victory, even without putting a point on the board.

“From my perspective, I think the player of the game was John. I know Jimmy did some extraordinary things, as did Daniel and Keaton, but I think John D, who scored zero points, did some exceptional things if you go back and watch the game. He may not always be the most vocal leader, but leading by example, through your actions, is the highest level of leadership in my opinion. John was there for us. I’m happy for him and this is a player who scored zero points today.”
The 35-year-old recently extended his contract with Maccabi for another two years, but much of his season to date had been spent somewhat in the background as the team struggled to find its footing. In the EuroLeague, Maccabi sits near the bottom of the standings with a 2-7 record, while domestically the yellow-and-blue had dropped two consecutive games, including a derby defeat in which the team looked completely overwhelmed.

Dibartolomeo also missed several EuroLeague games this season, including time away for his brother’s wedding abroad and the birth of his and his wife’s first child. But make no mistake: John D remains the heartbeat of this club and, perhaps more importantly, its barometer. His teammates need him and when Maccabi found itself in its most desperate moment of the evening, he was there once again.

With six Israeli League championships, five Winner Cups and three State Cups to his name, Dibartolomeo has lifted plenty of trophies throughout his Maccabi career. But the one he undoubtedly wants most is the EuroLeague. The club has come agonizingly close to returning to the Final Four on several occasions, but with the yellow-and-blue currently nowhere near a Play-In position, getting back into the race will require something special.

Katash’s team found itself in a similar predicament last season and managed to climb back into contention, only to run out of steam as the campaign approached its conclusion. The question now is whether this group can produce a similar turnaround and, this time, sustain it.

Dibartolomeo and Katash both believe there is reason for optimism, and perhaps the momentum from this dramatic Winner Cup triumph can provide the spark Maccabi desperately needs.

“I think a win gives you confidence,” Katash said. “The way we managed to come back gives us confidence as well. Obviously, this will be a different game, and they will definitely make adjustments and come out with tremendous energy. I’m sure they have a bitter taste in their mouths, and they’ll be aggressive from the opening tip to make up for what happened. We need to be ready for that. Hopefully, this game gives us the confidence we need moving forward.”

Dibartolomeo echoed his coach’s sentiments, recognizing that the Winner Cup victory was an important step but that Maccabi will need to bring the same fight and determination into its next meeting with Hapoel in Euroleague action on Thursday night in Cyprus.

“I think a win gives you confidence, and the way we were able to fight back gives us confidence. Of course, it’s a different game, and they’re going to absolutely adjust. I’m sure they have a bitter taste in their mouths, and they’re going to be aggressive from the start to make up for this. We need to be ready, but hopefully this game gives us the confidence we need going forward.”