Hapoel Wins the Super Cup!

Hapoel defeated Tel Aviv 84-79 to claim the Super Cup. Khadeen Carrington scored 21 points and was named MVP. (Photo: Oded Karni)

21/09/2025 | 23:00 | Post-Game

Hapoel defeated Maccabi "Rapyd" Tel Aviv 84-79 at Menora Mivtachim Arena on Sunday evening to win the "Social Super Cup", held for the first time in history. Khadeen Carrington was named the game's MVP.

Hapoel scorers: Khadeen Carrington 21, Jared Harper 20, Anthony Lamb 12, Justin Smith 10, Cassius Winston 9, Roi Pritzky 8, Nimrod Levi 3, Yovel Zoosman 1. Roi Huber and Dmytro Skapintsev also played.

Tel Aviv scorers: Roman Sorkin 22, John DiBartolomeo, Jimmy Clark and Oshae Brissett 12 each, Tamir Blatt 9, Jeff Dowtin Jr. 6, Jaylen Hoard 4, Will Rayman 2. Marcio Santos, Gur Lavy and T.J. Leaf also played.

Two of Israeli basketball's biggest clubs renewed their fierce sporting rivalry - around three months after their playoff finals series was halted at 1-1 following Operation Rising Lion. And even though it's only September, with both teams surely still far from their best, they provided a reminder of why this matchup has long been known as the "Clasico" - especially during a tense finish that felt like a playoff final.

Hapoel made several intriguing additions ahead of the 2025/26 season, but most importantly managed to keep together the excellent core that led the team last season - and it was that core that once again delivered the title. Carrington, with 21 points, and Harper, with 20, made the difference.

Both teams will continue working on their chemistry this coming Tuesday when they play their Winner Cup quarterfinal games. The newly crowned Super Cup champions will face Bnei Herzliya in Hadera (20:30).

A great atmosphere at Yad Eliyahu (Photo: Oded Karni)

Kattash started with Blatt, Dowtin Jr., Brissett, Hoard and Sorkin. On the other side, Yonatan Alon opened with Harper, Carrington, Zoosman, Lamb and Smith.

The most important moment of the first quarter - and indeed of the entire game - came after 48 seconds, when play was stopped in tribute to the 48 hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Everyone in the arena rose to their feet in a show of solidarity.

A tribute to the hostages in Gaza. The most important moment of the evening (Photo: Oded Karni)

Another look at the emotional and powerful moment (Photo: Oded Karni)

On the basketball side, the first half - perhaps fittingly for such an early stage of the season - was characterized by a lack of accuracy from both teams, as they combined to shoot 7-of-25 from three-point range.

One of the exceptions was Sorkin, who carried over his strong form with the Israeli National Team at EuroBasket. His 11 first-half points helped Maccabi Tel Aviv take a 42-35 lead after 20 minutes. Harper also had 11 points for Hapoel.

In the third quarter, one team found its rhythm - Hapoel. Alon's team won the period 26-14, thanks in large part to strong minutes from Winston and Pritzky, taking a 61-56 lead into the decisive quarter.

The fourth quarter, despite it being only September and far from the most important title of the season, delivered plenty of drama and another reminder of the great rivalry between the clubs.

The game appeared all but over when a Lamb three-pointer gave the Reds an 81-70 lead with two minutes remaining, but a 9-0 run by the Yellows brought the tension right back. Carrington made just one of two from the free-throw line, giving Maccabi Tel Aviv an opportunity to tie the game at 82-82, but Clark turned the ball over - and that proved decisive.

84-79 to Hapoel at the final buzzer, as the Reds became the first-ever winners of the Super Cup.

Carrington with the MVP award (Photo: Oded Karni)