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The Israel Basketball Premier League playoffs are reaching a thrilling climax as the quarterfinals head into their final games.
Bnei Herzliya managed to extend their series against Hapoel Holon, while Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Hapoel Jerusalem all swept their respective opponents to advance to the semifinals.
Herzliya kept their playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 94-86 victory over Holon, forcing a Game 4 that will take place in Holon on Wednesday. The match was a high-scoring affair from the start, with both teams exchanging rapid-fire baskets.
Shalev Lugashi was on fire from deep, while Chinanu Onuaku controlled the paint for Herzliya. Holon responded through Dakarai Tucker and Iftach Ziv, but Herzliya held a narrow 49-43 lead at halftime.
The third quarter saw Quinton Meeks push the lead further, but Holon clawed back behind the efforts of Michale Kyser, Ziv, and Tucker. In the end, clutch shots from Meeks, Lugashi, and Elijah Stewart sealed the victory for Herzliya, keeping them in the series.
Onuaku led Herzliya with 22 points, followed by Lugashi’s 21 and Stewart’s 20. For Holon, Tucker finished with 19 points, Ziv added 18, and Kyser chipped in 13.
Herzliya head coach Yehu Orland was pleased with his team’s resilience, noting the improvements made since the regular season. “We didn’t want to end the season in Game 3, and the team has shown tremendous growth. Management did a great job bringing in new players, and we’re getting better every day,” Orland said.
In contrast, Holon head coach Guy Kaplan acknowledged Herzliya’s strong performance, stating, “They play very well at home, and we were still a step behind even when we had the lead.”
Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Hapoel Jerusalem all completed their quarterfinal sweeps with commanding victories.
Maccabi advanced to the semifinals with a 98-75 win over Ironi Ness Ziona. Despite a strong start from Bryce Brown and Ricky Lindo for Ness Ziona, Maccabi’s depth proved too much.
Tamir Blatt, Trevion Williams, Jimmy Clark, and Levi Randolph contributed to a 48-40 halftime lead, which was extended in the second half through Roman Sorkin and Rokas Jokubaitis. Williams finished with 18 points, and Randolph added 15.
Maccabi coach Oded Katash expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance but emphasized the need for more consistency as they head into the semifinals.
Hapoel Tel Aviv completed their sweep with an 86-72 victory over Hapoel Gilboa/Galil. Despite early scoring from Gilboa’s Ish El-Amin and Gur Lavy, Tel Aviv’s Marcus Foster led a second-half surge that secured the win.
Head coach Dimitrios Itoudis praised his team’s improvement, saying, “We’ve gotten better every game, and our resilience is evident.”
Finally, Hapoel Jerusalem cruised to an 87-61 win over Maccabi Ramat Gan, with Yovel Zoosman and Jared Harper leading the way.
Jerusalem coach Yonatan Alon expressed confidence ahead of their upcoming semifinal matchup with Hapoel Tel Aviv, while Ramat Gan’s Shmulik Brenner reflected on his team’s achievements despite the loss.
As the playoffs move forward, all eyes are on the fierce semifinal matchups, with the intensity building after these impressive sweeps and extended series.