Tonight (Saturday) Maccabi Tel Aviv achieved exactly the victory it needed to interrupt the deep crisis and embark, perhaps, finally, on a new path: the champion survived a huge thriller against Hapoel Jerusalem and defeated the sworn rival 78:83, in front of 9,170 spectators in the arena. Although the teams came in completely opposite trends, Yannis Sapropoulos’ team recovered from a home loss in the previous round derby, while that of Yotam Halperin suffered its first loss after five league games.
A lot of water has passed under the river since Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 80: 104 in the previous round, when Oren Amiel was still standing on the lines in the team from the capital. But precisely in the midst of the Reds’ excellent momentum and after equaling the longest streak of losses in its history in Europe, the doubles team overcame a great shooting evening of its rival and also a very weak performance by Scotty Wilbkin, who for the first time ever scored less than 18 points against the Jerusalemites in the league. Unfortunately, there was also a moment that clouded the joy: Ante Žižić injured his knee in the fourth quarter and went down to receive treatment in the locker room. Later, the Croatian returned to sit on the bench, and the team will hope that this is not a serious injury that will disable him in the midst of the losses in the Euroleague.
Hapoel Jerusalem, for its part, did remain at the top of the table, but must learn from the fact that it did not pass an important test tonight, which it reached as a favorite against a broken opponent that arrived at a terrible time. The home crowd provided the team, which introduced Noam Dovrat in a debut, a tremendous boost that helped erase an almost double-digit lag in the second quarter and also record a 0:11 run in the final quarter, which brought Halperin’s players closer to victory. But it was precisely in Money Time, the host’s attack, who scored 13 of 25 from outside the arc and enjoyed the great ability of Jaylen Adams, got stuck and saw Maccabi Tel Aviv return from minus 7 for a critical victory.
the progress of the game
Quarter 1:
Retin Obsuhan, Itai Segev and Jaylen Adams held Hapoel Jerusalem ahead in the first minutes, but Derek Williams and Oz Blazer scored Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first 13 points and the Israeli became the champion’s winner, before Shanta Zizic sank and set up 11:15. Suleiman Braimo went to the line and shrank, Williams responded with a dunk but Willie Workman scored and maintained a 2-point gap. Blazer continued to bomb and raised the visitors to 15:20, Obsuhan returning from outside the arc. Yiftach Ziv came on the board with free throws, Zizic increased to 6 points, Segev shrank but Ziv signed the quarter on 20:26 To Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Quarter 2:
Ziv continued the good sequence with another basket, Noam Dovrat scored a first three-pointer at Hapoel Jerusalem and Jaylen Adams reduced to 28:25, but Maccabi ran away with a basket of Scotty Wilbkin and six consecutive points of Jake Cohen, on the way to 27:36. The host responded with a 0: 9 run with threes by Braimo and Obsuhan and a three-point move by Adam Ariel, who later added a three and set up 39:39 after John Dibertolomeo stopped the drift by lashing across the arc. Adams completed the turnaround from the line, but Žižić answered by 4 points and Dibertolomeo fired from distance to increase to 41:46 for the champion. After a timeout, Jaylen Adams scored two big baskets that shrank to46:45 At recess.
Quarter 3:
After two dry minutes that included Blazer’s dunk miss, Obsuhan scored the first basket of the half in passing. Keenan Evans answered with a three and another one from Williams raised to 47:52. Adams again came back from a timeout with points and then equalized with a three, but Zizic with a basket and foul move returned the lead to the visitors. The fiery Braimo shrank and the fierce Adams again sniped from a distance, but responded with a Dibertolomeo three. Braimo added two more, Wilbkin’s three and Cohen’s free throws closed the quarter on 59:63 To Maccabi.
Quarter 4:
A three by Ariel and a basket by Adams returned the lead to the Jerusalemites, Obsuhan added another shot from outside the arc and sent Sapropolos to request a timeout with a 67:63 lag. Ariel buried another from a distance and Yannis once again rushed to the secretariat at the height of a 0:11 home run. Williams came back with a three and Jizic reduced to minus 2, Braimo returned with a basket but Dibertolomao with five speed points turned 72:73. Kaiser Gates came back from a timeout with a basket and offense move, Williams equalized, Adams rained another three but Evans scored while squeezing an offense, setting up 78:78 from the line. Williams returned the advantage to Maccabi with a wonderful basket from half distance, then kidnapped Adams who tried to penetrate. Cohen closed interest from the penalty line and Maccabi Tel Aviv celebrated a victory 78:83.
Sunday games in the Premier League:
Maccabi Rishon Lezion – Hapoel Haifa (18:00)
Hapoel Gilboa / Galil – Hapoel Tel Aviv (20:00)