Unstoppable: After Stunning Gran Canaria, Hapoel Tel Aviv is One Win from EuroCup Title

Hapoel Tel Aviv is on the brink of making history. In front of 2,000 passionate red-clad fans in Samokov, Bulgaria, the Israeli club kicked off the EuroCup Finals with a big statement: a 74–65 victory over Spanish powerhouse Gran Canaria.

The win gives Hapoel a 1–0 lead in the best-of-three series—just one victory away from capturing its first-ever EuroCup title and clinching a coveted ticket to next season’s EuroLeague, Europe’s elite basketball competition.

The stakes? Monumental.

If the team wins again this Friday night in the Canary Islands, it won’t just be lifting a trophy—it will be breaking into the top tier of European basketball, a dream that once seemed impossible for the smaller Tel Aviv club.

Led by coach Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel showed grit and composure, weathering second-quarter pressure without losing control. With smart defense, big plays at key moments, and total team effort, they managed to keep the Spanish squad at bay.

The atmosphere in the arena felt almost like a home game—thanks to the loyal fans who traveled across the continent to support their team. That passion could be the X-factor again as the team prepares to finish the job.

All that remains to be seen is whether the Cinderella story that stunned European basketball with the elimination of favorites Valencia will continue — and reach a wild, unforgettable climax.