Maccabi Tel Aviv 
Hapoel Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Sunday at 21:00 (local): semifinal derby
Maccabi's head coach Neven Spahija before the domestic championship semifinal game against Hapoel Tel Aviv: "The pressure must be there, if you don't feel the pressure in such games then something is not ok". Tyus: "It's extra special because it is the final four"
“I don’t think there’s any possible surprise between Hapoel and us, we know each other so well and you can’t change the style of the game dramatically in three days the way you played basketball in 75 games or 40 games”, said Coach Neven Spahija before the league semifinals on Sunday (21:00, Sport5). “Some small details can be added, and also we are able to adjust just like they are able to adjust in any moment of the game”. Coach added: “Both teams are in a good momentum, I realize that lately the media emphasize they are in a good momentum and less of our good momentum, I respect them a lot I know their system very good, I know the coach and the way that he is coaching the team, I’m going to give them credit and I’m going to respect them but be sure that we will respond the right way on anything and I will also say that we are in a good momentum too, and when you look at our numbers they are impressive”.
“The team looks good especially in the last couple of practices and we are ready. The pressure must be there, if you don’t feel the pressure in such games then something is not ok, especially in games like these, I have a ton of experience in such games and I’ll find a way to explain to the players how to approach this game, but they have the experience too and they know how to play in such games”, coach Spahija concluded.
“I think everybody on the team understands, they understand from our fans it’s derby, a game we want to win, and it’s extra special because it is the final four”, said Alex Tyus. “We’ll come ready to play and we’re excited. We have been practicing really well, we are focused and we’ve been playing really well lately so we are ready for the challenge, it’s only one game so we have to leave it all out on the floor, no excuses after and no regrets. I just stick with my normal routine and get ready, treat it like every other game but at the same time understand that you want to get the championship, it’s an exciting game, and you don’t want to come too excited so it’s going to be fun.
Maccabi Qualifies to the Championship game with a 98:74 win over Hapoel
A tremendous second half by the yellows was enough to make it to the finals with the 98:74 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv, Tyus finished the game with MVP honors (18P&9R), Pargo added 18P&3A, Cole, Thomas and John-Di scored in double digits
Coach Spahija’s starting five: Pargo, Kane, Roll, Cohen and Tyus. Pargo and Cohen gave Maccabi the early 5:2 lead, Gaffney tied the game but Pargo reacted from downtown (8:5). Tyus capitalized on Cohen’s pass to complete the
three point play as Maccabi took the 13:7 lead forcing coach Franco to call for a timeout. Hapoel Tel Aviv completed the comeback forcing coach Spahija to call for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 15:16. Maccabi shooter’s play paid off as Thomas made the three pointer (18:16), Banks gave the lead to Hapoel but Cole tied the game (19:19). Roll and Gaffney exchanged threes as the first quarter ends with the reds having the 22:24 lead.Cole started the second quarter with eight points as the yellows take the 30:26 lead; Thomas turns great defense into instant offense as he increases Maccabi’s lead to 32:26. Ginat and Banks tied the game with just over four minutes remaining in the second quarter (32:32). Banks gave Hapoel the 35:36 lead but Kane and Roll’s hustle plays gave Maccabi the 40:36 lead, Pargo found John-Di for a corner three to put the yellow’s ahead 43:38 but Gaffney managed to score again as the second half came to an end with the yellows ahead 43:40.
Roll, Tyus
and Kane made it 50:40 at the beginning if the third quarter forcing coach Franco to call for a timeout, Limonad brought Hapoel closer to Maccabi but Pargo reacted (54:45). Pargo scored from deep to make it 59:48; Tyus capitalized with a follow dunk as the yellows take the 61:49 lead with four minutes remaining in the third. McNeil trimmed Maccabi’s lead to 63:55 but Thomas kept Maccabi’s lead alive (67:59), McKee’s free throw sent both teams to the final quarter with the yellows ahead 67:60.Thomas and Tyus gave Maccabi the 72:60 lead at the beginning of the fourth, Banks scored his free throws but Tyus and John-Di increased Maccabi’s lead to 78:62 three minutes into the fourth, Maccabi kept firing in all cylinders as Thomas made it 83:63, a lead from which the reds couldn’t recover as Maccabi took the 98:74 win qualifying to the championship game on Thursday.
