By Amy Samin

Another amazing game for Sylven Landesberg, who scored 36 points (6 of 8 from 3, 7 of 7 from 2) and earned 47 index points while leading Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv to a 106-90 victory over Ironi Nes Ziona in the Winner Sal League Cup semifinal. Jeremy Pargo also had a fantastic game, with 20 points and 7 assists. Team captain Guy Pnini and Alex Tyus contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Sylven Landesberg, Guy Pnini, Alex Tyus, MarQuez Haynes, and Jeremy Pargo started for Maccabi. Nes Ziona got off to a great start, running to 17-8 in the first half of the first quarter. Landesberg, Pnini and Aleks Mari? helped to cut Maccabi’s deficit to 2 in only a minute, but Nes Ziona quickly built their lead back up to 7. A triple by Landesberg put Maccabi within four, 24-20 as the first period came to an end.

Maccabi took charge at the start of the second quarter, as points by Mari? and Nate Linhart gave Maccabi a 29-28 lead, but Nes Ziona quickly rebuilt their lead to 40-34 halfway through the period. A layup by Linhart and a three by Haynes in the left corner put Maccabi within one, 35-34. Once again Nes Ziona opened up their lead, but Ohayon and Pnini combined to put Maccabi on top 51-49 as the half came to an end.

Landesberg did as he pleased as the third quarter got started, and together with Pargo and Pnini made it 65-57 Maccabi after four minutes. Maccabi continued to grow their lead thanks to dazzling plays including steals by Landesberg and Pnini that led to points by Pnini and Pargo, an oop from Pargo to Tyus for the slam, a layup and one by Pargo, and a slick one-handed pass by Haynes to Landesberg outside the arc. Nes Ziona managed to add some points, and the period ended with Maccabi leading by ten, 77-67.

The fourth quarter started off with a dunk by Tyus, while Landesberg continued to rain threes down on the hapless Nes Ziona. Another dunk by Tyus was followed with a classic drive to the basket and a three pointer by Pargo, 91-72 near the halfway mark. Pargo and Landesberg continued to put on a show, and the game ended in a 106-90 win for Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv over Ironi Nes Ziona.