Hapoel Holon secured an 87:82 victory over Hapoel Eilat in the League Cup on Tuesday evening. The hosts moved to the top of the table after two consecutive wins, while the visitors' hopes of a strong start took a setback. The match was decided in the final moments, with Holon holding their nerve when it mattered most.
We had given the away side the edge, backing Eilat with 68 per cent confidence before tip-off. The prediction didn't come off, and the reason was straightforward: Holon found their range from distance when the game tightened. Three-pointers made the difference, not effort or tempo.
The statistics tell the story without embellishment. Holon landed 11 three-pointers from 28 attempts, compared with seven from 18 for Eilat. Rebounding was another gap—30 to 26 in favour of the hosts, with seven offensive boards against four. Turnovers told a different tale, with Eilat protecting the ball better at 12 to 16.
What stood out was the efficiency from deep. Holon shot 39 per cent from beyond the arc, while Eilat managed 39 per cent as well, but the volume swung the outcome. The guests relied more on free throws, converting 20 of 24 attempts, whereas Holon hit 18 of 20. Both sides finished with 29 field goals, but the extra three-point attempts gave Holon the margin they needed.
Holon now sit top of the table with two wins from two games. They beat Ironi Ramat-Gan 83:80 last week before losing to Kiryat Ata 79:83, so this victory extends their positive momentum. Eilat have had mixed results recently, including a 75:55 win over Maccabi Ashdod and a narrow 85:87 defeat to Rishon Le Zion.
The League Cup format rewards consistency, and Holon have shown they can compete when the pressure builds. Eilat will need to address their rebounding and three-point volume if they want to challenge the leaders. This result puts the hosts in control of their own destiny.
