Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Gilboa Galil 94-65 on the road and wrapped up the series 3 games to 1, qualifying for the semifinal series in the Israeli Winner Sal League. Tyus was named game MVP with 18 points on 100% shooting and 7 rebounds. Blu added 17 points.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has qualified for the Winner Sal League’s semifinals after their 94-65 drubbing of Hapoel Gilboa Galil in Gan Ner Arena closed out the best of five series between the teams, 3 games to 1. Alex Tyus was outstanding, with 18 points on 100% shooting, 7 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. David Blu also had an exceptional game, with 17 points. Devin Smith (with 11 rebounds giving him a double double) and Ricky Hickman each contributed 13 points. Tyrese Rice and Yogev Ohayon each finished with 11 points. In the semifinals, Maccabi will face the winner of the series between Hapoel Eilat and Hapoel Tel aviv.
Maccabi’s starters were Yogev Ohayon, Andrija ?i?i?, Guy Pnini, Ricky Hickman and Devin Smith. Gilboa once again opened strong, taking a 7-2 lead after four minutes. Points by Hickman and Alex Tyus put the lead in Maccabi’s hands, 8-7 with three minutes left on the clock. The game stayed close but a layup by David Blu and a triple by Smith wrapped up the quarter with Maccabi leading 15-11.
Blu and Tyus continued to shine as the second quarter got underway, and Pnini added a bucket that took Maccabi to 21-16 after two and a half minutes. The hosts managed to close the gap, first tying the score at 21 and then taking a slight lead. Points by Smith and a steal +layup by Ohayon gave Maccabi a five point lead, but Gilboa went on a 6-0 run that put them back on top, 29-28 with two and a half minutes left in the half. Three straight buckets from downtown by Blu gave Maccabi a comfortable 39-32 lead going into the halftime break.
The third quarter opened with a 6-0 scoring run by Tyus (assists from Blu and Ohayon) that made it 45-32. Gilboa put together a string of buckets that closed the gap to seven, 49-42 near the halfway mark in the period. A huge three pointer by Hickman and a layup on the fast break by Tyrese Rice put Maccabi’s lead back into double digits. Maccabi continued to move the ball well while playing strong defense, as Hickman, Rice and Tyus added more points to the scoreboard. The third period ended with Maccabi leading 67-52.
In the fourth quarter is was clear Gilboa had given up, while Maccabi continued to dazzle on offense and play tough defense. Hickman, Blu, Smith, Rice and Tyus all scored in the first half of the period to make it 85-61. Ben Altit and Arad Harari came into the game with two and a half minutes on the clock, with the former scoring a floater in the paint. Pnini added a three from the left corner, and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv wrapped up the series against Hapoel Gilboa Galil with a 94-65 victory. They will face the winner of the series between Hapoel Eilat and Hapoel Tel Aviv in a best of five semifinal series.
