After recording a Euroleague victory for the sixth time in a row and arranging a meeting with Real Madrid in the playoffs, Maccabi Tel Aviv returns to the local arena and today (Friday) hosts Bnei Herzliya for an important game. The champion’s victory over the trophy holder will attach it to the leader of the upper house, Hapoel Jerusalem, and will maintain its chances of gaining a home advantage throughout the playoffs.
Avi Even will miss James Nanley, Derek Williams and Keenan Evans who did not register, and will hope to open a new streak in the league, after the streak of five victories was interrupted last week with a loss to Hapoel Holon. On the other hand, Oren Aharoni’s team arrives at the arena for the first time since making history and winning the state cup, and wants to break a streak of six away losses to Maccabi Tel Aviv by a cumulative difference of 141 points. The guest who hopes to climb to second place, registered Alexander Zaczewicz at the expense of Morris Kemp.
the progress of the game
Maccabi Tel Aviv went in again and again in the first minutes, and managed to squeeze two quick fouls from Chinano Onoako. The excellent chin came down to the bench, and Ante Žižić took advantage of this to celebrate in color and maintain a safe advantage for the Yellows. On the other hand, Zechevic showed offensive sparks but Avi Even’s team finished the first quarter with an advantage 18:25.
Maccabi Tel Aviv went up to a first double-digit advantage at the beginning of the second quarter and Herzliya looked quite confused, but Onoako returned to the floor and led a 0: 7 run by Herzliya. On the other side, Ante Žižić reached 10 personal points and returned the double-digit advantage to the Yellows, 27:37, four minutes to the break. In the following minutes Chris Bab woke up, sniped two threes and used Sean Dawson to close the gap again, after Scotty Wilbkin suffered a technical foul on unnecessary talk with the referee. A three by John Dibertolomao set up the half-time score, 39:47 To Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The third quarter was mostly characterized by excessive whistles from the referees. Jake Cohen suffered a dubious fourth offense, Andy Van Wallit’s duty was called a controversial technical foul, and the game fell asleep a bit – which worked in favor of Herzliya who slowly bit the difference. Chris Bab’s free throws equalized 53 three minutes before the end of the quarter, but at this point Maccabi Tel Aviv pressed the gas again, and with five consecutive points by Roman Sorkin and another buzzer three by Dibertolomao, ended the quarter again with a double-digit advantage, 58:68.