Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has won its first practice game of the 2010 – 2011 season, against Polish team Turów, 75 – 69. They will face Asseco Prokom in the final of the Wrocław tournament.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Turów of Poland 75 – 69 after trailing for most of the game in what was the inaugural effort by Maccabi head coach David Blatt.
Excellent defense in the final minutes of the game and the strong leadership of Doron Perkins turned the game around for Maccabi.
Tomorrow (Monday) at 20:30 local time, Maccabi will face the winner of the other semi-final game, Prokom Gdynia, which defeated Rytas Vilna 77 – 74.
Blatt sent Doron Perkins, Chuck Eidson, Tal Burstein, Lior Eliyahu and Sofoklis Schortsanitis into the game as the starting five.
The Poles got off to a quick 7 – 0 lead, but Maccabi was able to narrow the gap to 11 – 9.
Richard Hendrix and David Bluthenthal subbed in, and Jeremy Pargo entered the game with 2:44 left on the clock and the home team up 16 – 11.
After uninspired shooting from the free throw line by Maccabi, the first quarter ended with the Poles leading 20 – 15.
The hosts maintained their lead early in the second quarter, after Blu and Derrick Sharp had been replaced by Yaniv Green and Guy Pnini, in front 25 – 19 after three minutes.
After a time out, Sofo replaced Hendrix in the game.
A three-pointer extended the Poles’ lead to 28 – 19, but talented playing by Eidson (in for Burstein) brought Maccabi within five, 28 – 23.
Turów was unfazed and re-grew their lead until a basket and one by Blue made it 31 – 26 with a minute and a half left in the second period.
Pargo drained a bucket at the buzzer to send the teams into halftime with the hosts’ lead whittled to four, 33 – 29.
Maccabi led off the second half with Pargo, Elishay Kadir, Pnini, Hendrix and Perkins.
Pargo continued to show the skill he demonstrated in the first half, and cut the deficit to two, 36 – 34 after two and a half minutes of play, when Green came into the game for Hendrix.
Turów came back quickly, taking advantage of Maccabi turnovers to extend their lead to 44 – 36 within one minute. Maccabi couldn’t respond, and went into a time out with four minutes left in the period and the score 47 – 38.
Sofo then entered the game, replacing Green, and the substitution bore fruit; on his own the center brought Maccabi within six, 50 – 44.
The Poles went on a scoring run, fashioning a double-digit lead, but Pnini drained a shot from downtown to make it 55 – 47 going into the decisive quarter.
At the start of the final period the Poles continued to score from outside, taking a 58 – 47 lead.
Maccabi responded with two straight three-pointers and a bucket by Blu, closing the gap to 60 – 55.
The forward continued to show off his exceptional ability, draining a bomb that made it 60 – 58.
The Poles replied with a three of their own with six and a half minutes left in the game.
Perkins, with four points and a steal cut the lead to one, 63 – 62.
With three minutes left, Maccabi employed excellent defense and took their first lead of the game, 66 – 63.
Maccabi was able to maintain the lead for the remainder of the game, and has earned their first victory, 75 – 69 over Turów.
