Hapoel Tel Aviv fans march before the playoff final (Or Shkedi)
The playoff final series in the Israeli Basketball Premier League will get underway tonight (Thursday) at Yad Eliyahu, when Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Hapoel Tel Aviv for the first of at least two derbies that will decide who will be the national champion.
Even before the opening whistle, the preoccupation with everything except the game itself had already begun. The Hapoel Tel Aviv players and staff who arrived at the arena were shocked after security personnel began searching their bags for sailors. Hapoel complained after they said Maccabi Tel Aviv officials were not undergoing the same treatment, and a commotion developed between the sides that calmed down minutes later. In addition, at the entrance to the stands of Hapoel Tel Aviv fans only, metal detectors were installed besides the security tents, with massive security forces on site.
A strict security check is carried out outside of Yad Eliyahu. Fans of Hapoel Tel Aviv (Photo: Danny Maron)
More basketball
Unimportant facts in the final: The numbers behind the Tel Aviv derby
remain red: Zach Hankins extended a two-year contract at Hapoel Jerusalem
on the way to Spain? Ben Scharf is expected to make a second impression in Badalona
More in Walla! sport
Symbol in a world without symbols: Tomer Ginat wants to become mythology
See full article >
For both teams, who have yet to lose in the playoffs this year, this is a return to the finals, but while the Yellows were absent only one year after losing the championship to Hapoel Holon last year, the Reds have not reached it since 2005, when they lost to their city rivals 3-0 in the series. This is the tenth playoff final series in which the two Tel Aviv teams meet, with Maccabi winning all the previous ones, and if it does so again it will win the 56th championship in its history. Hapoel hopes to steal the home side to set up a chance to decide the series at home on Sunday, registering its sixth title in history and first since 1969.
- sport
- basketball
- League
Tags
- Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball
- Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball
