Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv was very excited about the victory. Pargo: “It was a great team effort, and we’re coming away with another impressive win.” Blu: ‘We’re coming into the game against Barcelona for first place with a lot of confidence.”
By Amy Samin
“This was one of Maccabi’s biggest away wins of all time,” said head coach David Blatt after his team’s 83 – 62 win over Ljubljana.The players came out in the second half and played exceptionally well.
It was a very important game; we approached it in that manner and played accordingly.
We were in trouble in the first half, but we responded appropriately on the court.
We made some changes and match-ups that got us back into the game in a big way and put the control in our hands.
I’m proud that we have already at this point guaranteed a place in the Top 8.
Today was good preparation for the big game against Barcelona.”
Jeremy Pargo, who showed outstanding leadership in the game, said, “We were really weak in the first half, but we played tough in the second half and were really focused; we didn’t lose our confidence.
I did my best to stay aggressive and positive all the time and not give up.
It was a great team effort, and we’re coming away with another impressive win.”
David Blu, who scored five three-pointers in the game, said, “At halftime, we listened to all of the things Coach Blatt had to say, and we also took a good look at ourselves and said that we could play a lot better than we were, and that’s exactly what happened.
My three-pointers went in and I’m happy that this moment has come.
I haven’t shot well recently in the Euroleague.
We’re coming into the game against Barcelona for first place with a lot of confidence.
We just need to play our game; when we do, good things happen.”
Lior Eliyahu, who also had an outstanding game, said, “We had a great game in the second half; huge really.
I don’t know if there is another team that has given such a good performance here in Ljubljana.
In the second half we matched up really well, and our defense stopped them completely.
They didn’t know what to do and we ran the way we like to.
I’m excited and happy that we’ve already secured a place in the quarterfinals.
We’re looking ahead to our next Euroleague challenge, which is of course Barcelona.
At home we can accomplish anything, and we’ve proved today that even on the road it’s very hard to beat us.”
The disappointed coach of Ljubljana, Jure Zdovc, said, “After we had a wonderful first half, Maccabi started with a zone defense that we couldn’t get past.
At the same time, they started to play faster on offense and put on more pressure and in no time at all the game changed completely.
It was clear to me when my players stopped playing defense that they wouldn’t be able to do anything offensively, either.
Maccabi deserves this win, and are to be congratulated.”
Goran Jagodnik, captain of Union Olimpija, added, “In the first half we played exactly the way we needed to against Maccabi.
We executed our program perfectly, and we stopped their offensive game.
In the second half everything fell apart before our eyes.
They played a zone defense and we couldn’t find a solution to that.
We started to play recklessly, not completing plays and making bad decisions.
When Maccabi opened the gap, there was no way we could catch up.”
Damir Markota added, “I don’t know what to say…Maccabi is simply a great team.
We let them play at their rhythm in the second half, and when they do that it’s impossible to beat them.”
