Though they trailed for much of the game, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv came back and took the win over Hapoel Holon at Nokia Arena, 85 – 79, in week 19 of the Lotto League. Lior Eliyahu was game MVP with 22 points and 6 assists.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv returned to their winning ways after defeating Hapoel Holon 85 – 79, thanks in large part to a stupendous third quarter, which they won 30 – 11 after trailing by13 at the half.
Eliyahu was unstoppable, with 22 points and 6 assists.
Pnini added 14 points and Perkins scored 11 and made 6 assists.
Fans of Maccabi’s Facebook page voted Lior Eliyahu the game’s MVP.
Coach Blatt started the game with Guy Pnini, Jeremy Pargo, Lior Eliyahu, Doron Perkins and Sofoklis Schortsanitis.
Holon led off with Moran Roth, Nir Cohen, Kasib Powell, Rich Melzer, and Amit Ben David.
Holon scored first with two points by Cohen, but Perk responded with a basket from downtown.
A seemingly effortless three-pointer by Eliyahu put Maccabi up 8 – 5 after two and a half minutes.
A couple of minutes later, a steal plus coast-to-coast by Pargo made it 12 – 7, Maccabi.
Holon didn’t give up, though, and fought their way to a 16 – 16 tie with three minutes left in the period.
Powell scored the go-ahead bucket, and suddenly Maccabi was playing catch-up.
Perk picked Cohen’s pocket and dished to Chuck Eidson, whose dunk brought an end to the first quarter, with the visitors leading 21 – 20.
A minute into the second quarter David Blu tied the game at 23 with a three from the left wing, but Ben David responded quickly to return the advantage to Holon.
Milan Mačvan made a nice assist to Eliyahu in the paint, but those were Maccabi’s last points for the next three minutes.
Maccabi tightened up on defense, but Holon’s shooters were having a great day, and the visitors’ lead soon grew to 35 – 27.
Blu sent up a hook shot (assist Eidson) to make it 35 – 29 with three and a half minutes left in the half.
Again Maccabi went without a field shot for a couple of minutes, until Mačvan scored in the final minute to bring the score to 41 – 32.
Points by Roth sent the teams into the halftime break with the score 45 – 32, Holon.
Sofo scored quickly at the start of the third quarter (assist Eliyahu) and Maccabi’s defense applied the pressure, forcing Holon to a shot clock violation.
Pnini delivered one of his typical clutch threes from the left corner to narrow the gap, 47 – 38, but was answered by Melzer at the other end.
Maccabi then put together a string of three baskets (Eliyahu in the paint, a dunk by Sofo – assist Pnini – and a huge bomb from outside the arc by Pnini) to cut their deficit in half, 50 – 45 near the halfway point in the period.
Richard Hendrix pulled down an offensive board and was fouled; his two points from the charity stripe made it 52 – 47.
A steal by Pnini led to points by Eliyahu, but a scoring run was cut short by points from Powell from the free throw line.
Hendrix sent a shot attempt by Roth into next week, then pulled down two more boards, before scoring in the paint to put Maccabi within two, 56 – 54.
Another three by Pnini returned the lead to the home team with just over a minute remaining in the period, and Eidson added one of his own from the right wing to make it 60 – 56.
Hendrix wrapped things up in the quarter with two more in the paint and Maccabi leading 62 – 56.
Holon refused to back down, and Ben David and Melzer, aided by Roth, returned the lead to the visitors four minutes into the final period, 65 – 64.
The advantage traded hands over the next few minutes until Pnini scored to tie the game at 70, then contributed on defense by stealing the ball.
Pargo delivered one of his dramatic drives to the basket, and Perks revved up the fans with a three from the right wing followed by a steal + coast-to-coast ending in a reverse dunk with a minute and a half left in the game, making it 81 – 74, Maccabi.
The final 23 seconds of the game were played from the foul line, but when the clock finally ran down, it was on an 85 – 79 victory for Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv over Hapoel Holon.
Box Score:
Maccabi: Eliyahu 22 points, 6 assists; Pnini 14 points, 4 steals; Perkins 11 points, 6 assists; Blu 9 points; Schortsanitis 7 points; Hendrix 6 points, 6 rebounds; Eidson 6 points; Pargo 6 points; Burstein and Mačvan 2 points each.
Maccabi’s head coach David Blatt said after the game, “Did I think it would be this hard?
No, I didn’t think about it – I don’t try to prophesize results beforehand.
Some unpleasant things were said during the break, and the players responded accordingly.
A lesser team would have lost this game.”
When asked about Maccabi’s upcoming game against Roma, Blatt responded, “Every game is important.”
Guy Pnini said, “It’s only natural that there would be a letdown; we’re not machines.
On the other hand, it’s unreasonable to say ‘we didn’t show up’ for the game.
We’re professionals.
We got called to order at the half, and you could see that by the way we played in the second half.
Games like this one happen sometimes.
Holon is a good team.
The loss to Barcelona hurt, but we have come out of that experience stronger.
We’re looking ahead to the games still to come.
I wait all season for the games against Jerusalem.”
Chuck Eidson is also eagerly awaiting the game against Hapoel Jerusalem: “It’s going to be a real fight.”
Lior Eliyahu, who was outstanding with 22 points and six assists, said, “Holon played very well for the entire game.
They surprised us with their aggression.
I’m happy we gave that extra push in the second half and came away with the win.”
