BKT EuroCup MVP Jared Harper starred as Hapoel Jerusalem claimed the crown
Hapoel Tel Aviv falls in Israel's Winner Cup final
Seasons
2 Mins read
Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem claimed its seventh Winner Cup with an 89–84 victory over Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv in a thrilling final at Pais Arena in the Israeli capital on Saturday night. Jerusalem added another trophy to its collection just weeks after lifting the Israeli Super Cup.
Jared Harper was named MVP of the finals after starring for the winners with 33 points and 5 assists. His performance echoed last season’s playoff heroics, when his buzzer-beater eliminated Tel Aviv in the semifinals. Harper's backcourt mate, Khadeen Carrington, added 15 points, Roi Huber followed with 12 and Yovel Zoosman 10. Antonio Blakeney paced Tel Aviv with 19 points, Elijah Bryant scored 18 and Vasa Micic tallied 14 points and 6 assists.
The matchup delivered everything expected from two of Israel’s biggest clubs. Jerusalem entered the game looking to build momentum after a mixed start to the season, highlighted by a recent EuroCup win over Besiktas Gain Istanbul. Tel Aviv, meanwhile, sought to end a 32-year drought in domestic trophies despite its rise to EuroLeague status following last season’s BKT EuroCup triumph.
The game opened at a high tempo, with Jerusalem taking a 29–24 lead after the first quarter thanks to sharp shooting from Harper. Tel Aviv fought back in the second quarter, closing the gap to 52–50 at halftime behind contributions from Micic and Bryant.
The third quarter proved decisive. Harper ignited Jerusalem with a deep three-pointer and added more baskets during a 7–0 run, while Carrington and Zoosman chipped in to push the lead to 76–64. Tel Aviv responded in the fourth quarter with a surge led by Blakeney, trimming the margin to just 4 points. However, Austin Wiley’s dunk and Harper’s steady free throws kept Jerusalem in control, sealing the 89–84 win and sparking celebrations in the capital.