Tel Aviv derby marks Hadar’s first league game at helm

Maccabi won its first three BSL games of the campaign under Edelstein and looks to remain the only undefeated team in the league on Monday.

By ALLON SINAI
Updated: OCTOBER 31, 2016 05:57
Maccabi Tel Aviv center Colton Iverson aims to build on his recent improved form when the yellow-and-blue visits Hapoel Tel Aviv tonight in BSL action. (photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Maccabi Tel Aviv center Colton Iverson aims to build on his recent improved form when the yellow-and-blue visits Hapoel Tel Aviv tonight in BSL action.
(photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Brimming with confidence thanks to two straight Euroleague wins, Maccabi Tel Aviv aims to extend its perfect start to the BSL season when it visits Hapoel Tel Aviv on Monday night in the first derby of the season.
Since the sacking of coach Erez Edelstein last Sunday and the appointment of his assistant Rami Hadar, Maccabi beat Galatasaray at home and Zalgiris Kaunas on the road to move back to .500 (2-2) in the Euroleague.
Maccabi won its first three BSL games of the campaign under Edelstein and looks to remain the only undefeated team in the league on Monday.
“The win over Zalgiris gives us confidence ahead of the derby,” said guard Yogev Ohayon.
“We just need to continue this way.”
Maccabi hosts Barcelona in continental action on Wednesday to cap a six-game stretch over 13 days that saw it lose to Real Madrid and beat Hapoel Holon before Edelstein was replaced by Hadar.
Maccabi will be without the injured Sylven Landesberg, with D.J. Seeley to be rested.
“We have to take many things into account and the decision to leave Seeley out is purely professional,” said Hadar.
Hapoel, which enters the game at 2-1, is hoping star guard Raviv Limonad will be able to play significant minutes after missing the start of the season with an ankle injury.
“Maccabi has assembled possibly the best roster we have seen in Israel in recent years, but we are focusing on ourselves and on what we need to do to win,” said Hapoel coach Sharon Avrahami.
“I always believe we can win.”
Elsewhere Monday, Hapoel Holon hosts Maccabi Ashdod.
On Sunday, Bnei Herzliya improved to 2-2 with an 83-74 win over Hapoel Eilat. Karam Mashour had 22 points and 16 rebounds for Herzliya, which clinched the victory by opening the fourth quarter with a 20-4 run (79-62).
Reginald Buckner contributed 19 points and 13 boards for Eilat, which fell to 1-3.
Hapoel Gilboa/Galil built on its impressive win over Hapoel Jerusalem with an 83-78 triumph at Maccabi Haifa on Sunday. Gilboa snapped Jerusalem’s 14-game regular season winning streak last weekend and proved that victory was no fluke in Haifa, moving to 2-2.
Jason Siggers led five Gilboa players in double figures with 19 points.
Jon Dibartolomeo scored 18 points for Haifa, which dropped to 1-3.
Meanwhile, the BSL and the Ministry for social equality announced that during the month of November a grandparent and one of his or her grandchildren will be able to enter any BSL game together for just NIS 25 total.