Hapoel Tel Aviv wins EuroCup, earns EuroLeague spot

Hapoel Tel Aviv won its first-ever EuroCup title by defeating Gran Canaria 103-94, marking a significant achievement in Israeli basketball history. The team's standout players included Antonio Blakeney and Johnathan Motley, who scored 27 and 26 points, respectively, with Motley being named the MVP of the final. This victory secures Hapoel a place in next year's EuroLeague, where they will compete alongside rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv, making it the first time two Israeli teams will participate in the top-tier league. Owner Ofer Yannay celebrated the win, asserting that their triumph symbolically overcame challenges posed by critics during the ongoing Gaza conflict. Coach Dimitris Itoudis joined an elite group of coaches who have won both the EuroLeague and EuroCup. Hapoel aims to strengthen its roster for the upcoming EuroLeague season by targeting high-profile players.