Hapoel Tel Aviv wins first game in basketball series on technicality after Iran missiles

Hapoel Tel Aviv has been awarded a technical victory in the first game of their best-of-five semifinal series against Hapoel Jerusalem in the Israeli basketball league. The decision comes after the game, held at Yad Eliyahu, was abruptly halted late Sunday night due to a salvo of missiles launched from Iran.

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Most likely, the result of this game will stand. As I told the teams here on the court, and I’m also saying this to the people at Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Holon as well as the teams in the relegation playoffs and this entire ecosystem, take a deep breath and don’t make hasty decisions. We must reach the end of the league season and not repeat what happened last year.

The match was in its decisive final frame, with host Hapoel Tel Aviv holding a 10-point lead (77-67) after three quarters. As the situation unfolded in the north of the country, league officials, referees, Home Front Command personnel, and Israeli police convened at center court. Following discussions, it was decided that the approximately 6,000 fans in attendance would be evacuated in an orderly manner, while players retreated to their locker rooms to await safety clearance.

However, after the spectators departed, Hapoel Tel Aviv players returned to the arena floor. Hapoel Jerusalem players, citing the ongoing security situation, refused to continue the game. Consequently, the match was abandoned, with the recommendation that Hapoel Tel Aviv be granted a technical victory, pending a final ruling from the Israel Basketball Association.

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As of now, there is currently no plan to move the playoffs from Israel and go to another country. We hope this will be a short-term situation and that it will be possible to play as soon as tomorrow. If that means playing without fans, then without fans.

League CEO David Basan addressed the situation, stating, "Most likely, the result of this game will stand." He urged teams to "take a deep breath and don’t make hasty decisions," emphasizing the need to complete the league season. Basan confirmed there are "no plans to move the playoffs from Israel" and expressed hope for a short-term situation allowing play to resume, potentially without fans. Jerusalem coach Yonatan Alon commented, "This is not a situation to play in. Our players cannot focus on basketball and I also can’t see myself drawing up a play right now."

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This is not a situation to play in. Our players cannot focus on basketball and I also can’t see myself drawing up a play right now. Credit to everyone for trying to keep this league alive – sometimes perhaps trying a little too hard, but at the moment, from our perspective, it was n