JERUSALEM (AP) — The mystique surrounding Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel’s perennial basketball powerhouse, may finally be wearing off.
The most dominant team in the country lost in the national championship game Thursday, only the third time in the last 41 years it failed to finish on top. Hapoel Gilboa Galil beat the favorites 90-77.
Hapoel Gilboa Galil coach Oded Katash says “it is really special to beat Maccabi, even more than any other team.”
Maccabi has won 48 of the 56 league titles, but only one in the past three years.
