Maccabi’s coach after the 85:75 win over Haifa: “We lost focus in the third and fourth quarter”. Cohen who was the game MVP: “As long as we keep making small steps every day we will be ok”
With almost zero time to rest after the getting the important win in Milan, Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv traveled up north to Haifa where they continued their momentum getting the 85:75 win as they remain as the number one seed in the domestic standings with a 12:3 record. On Thursday: traveling to Kaunas to face Zalgiris
Coach Spahija: “The most important thing when you are playing two games in three days with such a difficult trip is to find the energy and to win the game, I said it before the game they (Haifa) are better than their standings, and there’s also extra motivation when you are playing against Maccabi, I wish them to play in their next games the way they played in the second half. We lost some focus in the third and fourth quarter but we found the way to win and that’s all, I would like to congratulate my players and move forward”.
Neven also addressed the energy level: “The first half of the game was pretty good but the second half of the game not even close, we lost the focus and energy that we had in the first half and they’ve made some tough shots.” About Jake coach added: “he was probably one of the best players in the team. We played in our last game (Milan) with a short rotation but I don’t think we can do it in the long term”.
Cohen: “Well we just stayed focus, I think that’s part of learning from some of our mistakes from the Israeli league; we haven’t played as well as we wanted in the Israeli league at home. I think it was a part of learning from our mistakes to close out the game the way with confidence”.
After putting up a 17P&15R game Jake added: “I certainly know the league, I’ve been here for a while now and played in this gym before and that helps but basketball is basketball, you play it all over the world and the ball goes in or it doesn’t go in it’s the same everywhere”. Jake also addressed the upcoming game against Zalgiris: “well we got a lot to improve obviously we’re still not a perfect team, but I think we are playing well and that we are improving and as long as we keep making small steps every day we will be ok”.
