Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv stormed into the Israeli cup finals on Friday by comfortably beating Ironi Kiryat Ata 102-67 in Menora Arena. The yellows will face Hapoel Jerusalem in the title game in a rematch of last year’s finals, with Maccabi looking to reclaim the trophy.
Just three days after bowing out of the EuroLeague, Oded Kattash’s men needed a quarter to regain their focus and rhythm. Kiryat Ata led 27-18 after the first ten minutes, but then things changed.
Led By Bonzie Colson (14 points) and Jasiel Rivero (8), the Israeli champs took over the game and led by 10 points by the halftime break. The northeners only scored 40 points in the final three quarters, and a long garbage time period was inevitable.
Roman Sorkin was Maccabi’s leading scorer with 17 points, with Joe Thomasson (12), John DiBartolomeo (10) and Tamir Blatt (10) also reaching double figures.
