Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv responded to the critics and doubters with a decisive 73-58 victory over previously undefeated Lokomotiv Kuban. Blatt: “I hope this great performance will help lead us to what we truly are – an excellent team.”
By Amy Samin
Following the team’s victory in Krasnodar, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv’s head coach David Blatt had this to say: “We came into tonight’s game ready – physically, mentally, and tactically. The players executed exactly as we wanted them to, for the entire forty minutes, and in the best possible way. But best of all, the guys played tonight with passion, with a will, and with Maccabi pride. This was a really important game for us, crucial even, not just for the result but psychologically. I hope this great performance will help lead us to what we truly are – an excellent team. Now we’re looking forward.”
One of the top players of the game, Ricky Hickman (14 points, 6 assists), added: “The coaches did a great job preparing us for this game against Kuban, and this time we put into action everything they asked of us, chapter and verse. We shut down their three stars, we were aggressive for the whole game, and we played together as a unit. We fought for every ball, and even more so for our honor. We came into the game prepared mentally, and the result reflects that. We don’t need to celebrate, we need to keep working hard and get better.”
Veteran shooter David Blu, who had a great night with 50% shooting from downtown (9 points and 7 rebounds), said, “We attained this victory tonight not through basketball, but through mental strength. We needed to prove to everyone – to the Euroleague, to the Israeli League, but above all to ourselves – that we are a good team. And that’s exactly what we did. We were determined, and we didn’t let anything stop us. Aside from that, we did a great job executing the game plan, and everything came together for an excellent result on the court.”
