Darussafaka 
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv Darussafaka
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
"I never remember a game that wasn't a must win"
Coach Giannis Sfairopoulos before Maccabi's game against Darussafaka: "we need to be focused to follow our plan". John DiBartolomeo: "If we play on the defensive end and we get out, we'll give ourselves a lot more opportunities"
“We prepared to the game against Darussafaka”, said coach Giannis Sfairopoulos. “We know it’s not an easy game, in the EuroLeague there are no easy games and we respect Darussafaka a lot, they had some games especially at home that they lost in the end and we need to be focused to follow our plan. From what we saw they brought another player, Douglas, so they are interested in playing better and win games so we need to be focused in our plan defensively and offensively. We are very happy that Pargo is back because he’s a part of the team and we want him to be healthy and ready to support the team.
“If we play with intensity, if we play on the defensive end and we get out, we’ll give ourselves a lot more opportunities”, said John DiBartolomeo. “I think that will set the tone for us, especially where we need to get stops and kinda give the first hit”. When asked about the stache-pack John said: “We started in November, won a couple of games and we’re trying to let it ride a little bit longer. Most of the team has been together long enough, obviously it’s not ideal to spend time apart before an important game but that’s the situation, as for team chemistry I believe we all know how to play and we know how play together, we’ve been together long enough and a day here a day there we’ll be able to make up for it”.
The team captain also addressed the conclusions made by the Sharabi committee: “I was confused and caught off-guard if you will, to be a citizen for a couple of years and have it taken away from you is confusing for me and a little shocking. Every citizenship situation is different, you have guys in Israel for a long time that have started families and set up their home and for them is even more upsetting”.
“I think the last week has really helped me in getting a lot of experience against top level competition”, said Jake Cohen. “I think it’s gonna help me hopefully in the EuroLeague fighting against guys in that caliber, I got a lot of minutes on the floor and I think that’s gonna help me moving forward to help the team. If anything it will be in a good way, have a good rhythm played a lot of games, you know you’re ready, body feels good been doing a good job taking care of it and I’m ready to play”. When asked whether this game is a must win Jake replied: “This phrase makes me laugh because this is my fourth year at Maccabi and I never remember a game that wasn’t a must win”.
We're Coming Back!!!!
After being down by 16 in the third quarter Coach Sfairopoulos' squad delivered a juggernaut performance in the fourth quarter to claim the 71:73 come from behind win. Johnny O'Bryant (12P & 14R) finished with MVP honors
Coach Sfairopoulos’ starting five: Wilbekin, Black, Caloiaro, O’Bryant and Kane. Scottie was the first to score for the yellows, Darussafaka reacted but Black capitalized on the boards to give Maccabi the 4:6 lead. Savas and Brown completed a 5:0 run for the locals (11:6) but Ray and Black sparked a 9:3 run for the yellows forcing Coach Caki to call for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 14:15. O’Bryant increased Maccabi’s lead but Douglas had the final say in the first quarter as he scored from deep to tie the game (17:17).
Darussafaka took the edge at the beginning of the second quarter but Maccabi stayed close to the hosts, both teams kept trading blows with the scoreboard showing 25:23. Roll tied the game but Brown and Peiners reacted with a 5:0 run forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout (34:29). John-Di scored five points and Zoosman converted great defense into instant offense to bring the yellows closer to Darussafaka (37:36). Brown and Kosut completed another 5:0 run to take the 42:36 lead at halftime.
Black scored at the beginning of the third quarter but Darussafaka reacted with a 7:0 run to take the 49:38 lead forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout. Darussafaka scored but Ray reacted from deep (51:41). The hosts completed a 6:0 run to take the 61:45 lead, John-Di’s late damage control in the third sent the yellows’ to the fourth quarter trailing 62:51.
Peiners scored all of his free throws at the beginning of the fourth to make it 65:51 but Scottie, Johnny and John-Di went on a downtown frenzy scoring four threes to come back into the game in style (65:63). Ray scored a mid-range jumper but McCallum reacted to keep Darussafaka ahead 68:65. Ray, Caloiaro and Scottie continued delivering blows as Maccabi completed the comeback taking the 68:73 lead with just under two minutes remaining in the game. Michael Eric and McCallum kept Darussafaka alive (73:71), the hosts had the chance to send the game to overtime but Zoosman with an amazing block gave the 71:73 important road win to Maccabi.
