2017–18 Israeli Basketball Premier League

Heading into the 2017–18 season, Maccabi Tel Aviv had not won the Israeli Basketball Premier League championship since 2014, a four-year drought for the country's most decorated club.[1] Hapoel Holon arrived at the Final Four after capturing the Israeli State Cup during the season — a victory that came at Maccabi's direct expense, as Holon had defeated Maccabi in the State Cup final.[1]

Holon's campaign was eventful off the court as well. Glen Rice Jr. was released from the squad after punching teammate Guy Pnini, then rejoined the club shortly before the Final Four.[1] On the day before the championship final, a police investigation was opened involving one of Holon's foreign players on suspicion of violence against a partner.[1] Despite those disruptions, Holon had returned to the championship final for the first time since its 2008 title season and was bidding to complete a historic Israeli double.[1]

Maccabi opened the Final Four with a commanding 98–74 semifinal victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv, a 24-point margin that signaled the form it would carry into the final.[1] The championship game was played at Menora Mivtachim Arena on a Thursday evening.[1]

The final was effectively decided within its opening minutes. Maccabi burst out of the gate with an 8–0 run, which DeAndre Kane extended to 13–0 with a dunk.[2] Holon struggled to score throughout the first half, and Maccabi led 24–7 at one point before closing the first quarter ahead 28–17.[1][2] Glen Rice Jr., held on the bench at the start, was introduced as Holon fell further behind.[2]

Maccabi's lead grew to 47–31 at halftime and 68–47 after three quarters, leaving little drama in the final period.[1] The team maintained its command despite shooting only 5-for-14 from the free-throw line in the first half, with Deshaun Thomas missing his first seven attempts.[2] Joe Alexander was ejected in the fourth quarter after receiving two consecutive technical fouls following his reaction to an offensive-foul call, and he gestured toward the Maccabi crowd as he exited toward the locker room.[2] The final score was 95–75.[1]

Jake Cohen led all scorers with 18 points, six rebounds, four steals, and an efficiency rating of 26, and was identified as the outstanding player of the final.[2][3] Michael Roll added 15 points, while John DiBartolomeo and Norris Cole each contributed 13.[2] Alex Tyus posted a double-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks, and DeAndre Kane finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.[2] Jeremy Pargo, whose arrival late in the campaign was credited by club figures with helping transform Maccabi's season, scored seven points in the final.[3]

For Hapoel Holon, Tu Holloway scored 20 points to lead his team, while Glen Rice Jr. added 14 on 4-for-13 shooting from the field.[2] Joe Alexander scored 13 before his ejection, Tamir Blatt scored 12, Jordan Hamilton posted 7 points and nine rebounds on 2-for-10 shooting, Guy Pnini scored 5, and Tayshaun Thomas scored 4.[2] Rice left for the locker room before the closing ceremony concluded.[1]

In a gesture of team unity, Maccabi captain John DiBartolomeo invited former captain Itay Segev to raise the championship plate alongside him during the trophy ceremony.[1] Segev had lost the captaincy after requesting to be released from the club, and both Segev and Yuval Zosman played in the final without scoring.[1]

Coach Neven Spahija called the season the most difficult of his career, noting that Maccabi had played 77 games across numerous highs and lows, with several players appearing in a championship final for the first time.[3] Dan Shamir, Hapoel Holon's coach, was named the season's coach of the year despite the defeat; Shamir acknowledged that Maccabi had deserved the championship and had been superior by several levels in the final.[3]

For Maccabi Tel Aviv, the victory delivered the club's 52nd Israeli championship and returned the title to the club after four seasons without one.[1] For Hapoel Holon, the runner-up finish meant that the Israeli men's basketball double remained beyond the reach of any club other than Maccabi Tel Aviv since Hapoel Tel Aviv achieved it in 1969.[1]

Contemporary reports used different labels for individual honors rather than documenting a clear factual dispute. Ynet's post-final report identified Jake Cohen, who scored 18 points, as the outstanding player of the championship game.[3] Its game report separately stated that Alex Tyus, who had 10 points and 15 rebounds, was selected as MVP of the entire Final Four.[1] Sport5 described Tyus, who also recorded four blocks, as the MVP of the evening.[2] The distinctions reflect differing scopes and editorial terminology: Cohen was singled out for the final, while Tyus received broader or differently worded recognition.