A 20:6 fourth quarter secured a 68:78 road win over Buducnost as the squad in yellow and blue improve their record to 1:2. Wilbekin (28P&5A) finished with MVP honors
Coach Spahija’s starting five: Roll, Caloiaro, Black, Kane and Wilbekin. Clarke was the first to score for the locals but Wilbekin and Roll reacted for Maccabi who took the 2:5 lead. Gordic and Clarke completed a 7:0 run for Buducnost forcing Coach Neven Spahija to call for a timeout (9:5). Wilbekin scored four points to keep Maccabi in the game (12:9). Wilbekin scored from downtown to tie the game (14:14) with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter. Buducnost had the final say in the first having the 16:14 over Maccabi.
Maccabi started the second quarter firing on all cylinders as they completed a 7:0 run (16:21), Jackson reacted with back to back threes but O’Bryant and Tyus gave the 22:25 lead to Maccabi. Buducnost completed an 8:0 run as they took the 30:25 lead, but this time it was John-DiBartolomeo and Kane tied the game (30:30). Buducnost ended the second quarter with an 11:4 run to take a 41:34 lead at halftime over Maccabi.
Omic scored for the locals at the beginning of the third quarter as they maintained their rhythm
en route of a 45:39 lead. Maccabi turned great defense into instant offense as Scottie scored from downtown to make it 45:43. Spahija’s squad had to hustle for every point they scored as Tyus’ free throws brought them to within striking distance (47:46) Omic and Clarke increased the locals’ lead to 54:46 but Scottie reacted with seven points of his own to make it 54:53 forcing Buducnost to call for a timeout. Clark increased the Montenegrin’s lead to 59:55. Roll’s free throws brought Maccabi closer but Jackson managed to beat the buzzer as the third quarter came to an end with the scoreboard showing 62:58.Caloiaro and Roll tied the game at the beginning of the fourth and Tarik completed the comeback (62:64) forcing Buducnost to call for a timeout. Roll found Caloiaro for an open deep three to increase Maccabi’s lead to 62:67. Wilbekin’s
buzzer beating three completed a 12:0 run for Spahija’s squad (62:70). Omic scored for the locals but Wilbekin and Caloiaro reacted giving Maccabi the double-digit lead; Black connected with Kane on back to back offensive plays to make it 64:78 with just over a minute remaining in the game, Buducnost scored the last four points in the games as Maccabi claims the 68:78 road win.
