First title this season for Hapoel Afula, which won the National Cup and the prize for winning NIS 100,000. After a balanced first half, only one team went up to the floor. For a double-digit advantage that was maintained until the end, veteran American guard Vander Blue was passionate with 31 points, and won the final MVP title.
• the progress of the game
Daniel Rosenbaum opened with 8 points in 3 minutes. On the other side Vander Blue scored 4 points in a row and with a basket and foul move Guy Dotan set 10:12. Two consecutive threes by the visitors, were answered in two big moves by Tomer Porat (11 points in the first quarter) who set 25:27 for the home team. At the start of the second quarter, the pace calmed down and the board showed 32:33 to Afula, 5 minutes into the half. Vander Blue maintained the local advantage, while Alon Drucker scored a beautiful basket in the round. At half time 42:41 to the Southerners. Threes for Roi Natzia and Guy Dotan in the opening of the third quarter set a record advantage for the home team 44:54. The Afula run continued and already reached 4-18 on the way to a 46:59 advantage. Elitzur with him Ashkelon closed this quarter with only 8 points and saw Anton Shotbin set 50:69 at the end of the third quarter. An impossible three by Vander Blue and another by Tomer Porat raised the gap to 54:81, 7 minutes to go. Elitzur with him Ashkelon responded with a 13-2 run and reduced to 67:83. However, it was too late and Hapoel Afula recorded a victory in the final game.
Afula Kaplan coach: “The excitement on Thursday was also great from winning the cup for the first time and mainly because of the huge push of our crowd that once again proved that in moments of truth he mobilizes and gives us a great home feeling. And we are focused on that goal from now until the end of the season. “
Afula, which is currently at the top of the table in seventh place with a balance of 6 wins and 6 losses, will go south to Ashdod this coming Tuesday (4/01/21) where it will meet local Maccabi in order to rise to a positive balance and approach the top of the table.
Scored for Hapoel Afula: Vander Blue (11/20 for two) 31 points, Tomer Porat (3/4 for three) 16 points, Guy Dotan 13 points, Roi Natzia 11 points, Michael Holyfield 10 points, Ziv Ben Zvi (6 assists) 7 Points, Anton Shotbin 6 points, Omer Elal 2 points
Scored to Elitzur with him Ashkelon: Storm Warren (9 rebounds) 21 points, Daniel Rosenbaum (7 rebounds) 13 points, J.R. Holder and DJ Sharp 12 points each, Jordan Lewis 8 points, Alon Drucker 7 points ‘, Arthur Rosenfeld 5 pts