Gran Canaria 
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv Gran Canaria
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
"It's time to react"
Coach Neven Spahija before the crucial game against Gran Canaria: "Whoever is going to play better defense tomorrow has better chance". Michael Roll: "We're gonna come out and do everything we can"
“It’s very important especially because of our bad start, also for the first time we’re gonna have a full roster”, said Coach Neven Spahija. “Jeremy is not here but we have his substitution, Ramon Sessions already one week with us and it’s time to react. We have to play our game with the pace exactly what we’re doing when playing our best basketball and definitely whoever is going to play better defense tomorrow has better chance”.
“It’s big, obviously we’re struggling right now in the EuroLeague and it will be a big momentum for us to pick this one up”, said Angelo Caloiaro. “Every team in the EuroLeague is good so we have to come out and to play well to get it. Honestly it feels great, this is one of the very few practices that we’ve had that literally the entire team is there, Pargo is still gone but Sessions is here now and it’s good it definitely helps, that’s definitely going to contributes to tomorrow’s game in terms of us getting better at practice”.
“It’s exciting for us definitely we really enjoy everybody out here it feels like it’s been a really long time”, said Michael Roll about having a full roster for the first time in a while. “It’s great to have everybody’s energy and uplifting and it’s going to be great here tomorrow. We know it’s a very important game for us especially in our situation right now we’re gonna come out and do everything we can, even give a little bit more to win this game. Main keys for us obviously is bringing the energy, having more energy out there and playing more physical being aggressive right from the tip and really just try and take it to them”.
Maccabi loses 84:78 to Gran Canaria on the road
The locals imposed their will from the beginning forcing Coach Neven Spahija's squad to its sixth loss in the EuroLeague
Coach Spahija’s starting five: Wilbekin, Roll, Kane, Caloiaro and Black. Black was the first to score in the game as Spahija’s squad took the early 0:4 lead. The locals completed an 8:0 run to take the 8:4 lead. Gran Canaria increased their lead to 14:6 but Scottie reacted from downtown, O’Bryant and Tyus scored six points for Maccabi as they trimmed Gran Canaria’s lead to 17:15. The locals managed to finish the first quarter strong having the 23:15 lead.
Eriksson increased Gran Canaria’s lead to 26:15 at the beginning of the second quarter. Tyus connected with Wilbekin for a dunk but Eriksson scored from deep again (29:17). Kane scored a three pointer but Oliver reacted right away as the locals maintained their lead (34:22). Caloiaro and Tyus completed a 5:0 run as Coach Maldonado called for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 34:27. Maccabi hustled their way back into the game as they stayed close to the hosts (40:36) with just over two minutes remaining in the first half. Neither one of the teams really managed to impose their will till the end of the second quarter with Spahija’s squad trailing 43:38.
Caloiaro made both of his free throws at the beginning of the third quarter (43:40) however Gran Canaria reacted to Keep Maccabi at bay (51:42). Kane’s three pointer kept Maccabi in the game (53:47), but Gran Canaria managed to capitalize again enroute of a 61:49 lead forcing Coach Spahija to call for a timeout. Roll found Tyus for a dunk but the locals reacted again to make it 65:57 at the end of the third quarter.
Roll and Kane started the fourth with back to back threes to trim Gran Canaria’s lead to 65:63. John-Di found Tyus for an easy dunk as Maccabi tied the game forcing Gran Canaria to call for a timeout. Wilbekin scored from deep to give Maccabi the 65:68 lead, Balvin sparked a 7:0 run for the locals who took the 72:68 lead. Gran Canaria increased their lead to 78:72 forcing Coach Spahija to call for a timeout. Baez and Pasecniks made it 82:74 from which Spahija’s squad couldn’t recover as Herbalife Gran Canaria claims the 84:78 win.
