Bnei Herzliya 
Maccabi Tel Aviv Bnei Herzliya
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
"Every loss is tough"
Yovel Zoosman before the game against Herzliya: "We have a busy week and we'll come to win every game". John DiBartolomeo: "We need to be better on both ends especially on defense"
After losing to Ness Ziona Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv held a special practice before the game against Bnei Herzliya (Sport5, 17:30 local). The yellows will continue their hectic schedule today (Tuesday) and they will face Baskonia on Thursday and Hapoel Jerusalem on Saturday marking all games as must wins.
“It’s fun to make these kids and their families happy, they are experiencing more difficulties than we all are”, said Yovel Zoosman. “I’m happy to have the privilege to be here with them, to make happy as much as possible, usually during the year we don’t have many events like these and when we put our hearts into it”.
“Every loss is tough”, Yovel added. “We didn’t want to lose this game. We came fresh to practice, and there’s a new game (i.e. Herzliya), we have a busy week and we’ll come to win every game. It’s hard to make tough practices of five on five, so we do what we can and we watch a lot of video so that we will learn our opponents as much as we can to come better prepared. I don’t think that the league games are less important, coach told that to us before the Ness Ziona game that every game is important. First we will try to beat Herzliya, this is our main goal right now, after that we will come to the Baskonia game do our best and try to win this game”.
“We approach to every day the same way and that’s to get better and work hard”, said John DiBartolomeo. “We use these games and those that in-between to do what we can to improve so when the time comes we’re playing our best basketball when we need to, that means no days off whether it’s light practice whether it’s recovery day whether it’s Israeli league game or EuroLeague. We’re going to every game wanting to win, loses will happen but I think that the more disappointing part for us was the way that we played we need to be better on both ends especially on defense we need to play with more intensity and be better”.
JohnDi also addressed the event saying: “It’s great we love to do it, as you know we’re kind of in a middle of a hectic schedule but we’re able to plan for it for the fans and their families, it’s really special and I’m happy to be a part of it”.
Bouncing back: Maccabi grabs the 77:87 win against Herzliya on the road
Maccabi took control in the first quarter and never looked back. John DiBartolomeo (23P, 4R & 3A) led three scorers in double digits
Coach Sfairopoulos’ starting five: Kane, Black, Cohen, Zoosman
and Wilbekin. The hosts took the early 7:2 lead but Black and Cohen tied the game (7:7). Both teams traded blows from deep with Herzliya keeping their edge (13:12). Cohen was unstoppable giving Maccabi the 13:19 lead. Herzliya completed a 5:0 run but Cohen reacted again for Maccabi who finished the first quarter ahead 18:21.Maccabi started the second quarter with a 7:2 run increasing their lead to 20:28, Tyus completed the
three point play and Johnny scored from deep as coach Sfairopuolos’ squad imposed their will enroute of a 23:34 lead. Herzliya started reacting as they tried to stay in the game but Tyus, Caloiaro and Zoosman kept them at bay (35:48). Johnny scored but Herzliya had the final say in the quarter as they trail 41:50.Herzliya started the third quarter with a 7:0 run trimming Maccabi’s lead to 48:50. John-Di and Black started reacting for Maccabi who managed to stop Herzliya’s run (50:57). Robinson scored but Kane and Johnny kept Maccabi ahead 56:64 with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter. John-Di went for a baseline penetration and kicked the ball out to Roll who scored from deep to make it 56:67. Robinson scored from deep but John-Di found his stroke from way deep to beat the buzzer giving Maccabi the 59:70 lead.
Coach Sfairopoulos’ squad started the fourth quarter the same way they ended the third- scoring as they increased their lead to 63:75. Robinson scored from downtown but Johnny found Angelo for an easy lay up (66:79). Herzliya managed to come back all the way to 75:79 with just over two minutes remaining in the game and when push came to shove John-Di and Johnny reacted with five points to make it 76:84 lead with just over a minute remaining in the game. Maccabi made a few more stops and kept their composure as they made their free throws securing the 77:87 away win.
