Hapoel Jerusalem win Israeli League Cup

Hapoel Jerusalem sent a message through Israeli Basketball by defeating powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final of the Chance Cup (League Cup) pre-season tournament. Tel Aviv went into the game as firm favourites, after-all this is a team that swept all before it by winning the Israeli league, cup, and the Euroleague last season. However, Hapoel Jerusalem took this tournament thanks to an 81-78 win.

Whether this will have a bearing on the Israeli league season is unknown of course, but needless to say, Tel Aviv will be the team to beat again this year.

As for the game itself, a high scoring opening stanza saw the teams go bucket for bucket until Hapoel Jerusalem opened a 25-23 lead at the first rest. Jerusalem exploded in the second quarter to stream in 29 points while Tel-Aviv could only manage to stay in touch with 26 points. At the midway buzzer the favourites were trailing 54-49. Maccabi Tel Aviv improved in the third frame as the baskets dried for both teams. The Euroleague champs drew to within two points of Jerusalem, with the scoreboard reading 68-66 after 30 minutes on the floor. In the final quarter Hapoel tightened in defense to concede just 12 points, enough for them to hold on to secure the victory and the title.

Jerusalem spread the scoring around as Yotam Halperin scored 13 points, and Tony Gaffney, Lior Eliyahu, and Bracey Wright took 12 apiece.

Tel Aviv duo Sylven Landesberg and Guy Pnini were the game high scorers with 20 points each, the pair scoring more than half the losing efforts points.