Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 
CSKA Moscow Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
CSKA Moscow
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
"We will not give up"
Coach Spahija before the game against CSKA: "We will be missing Pargo and Kendrick which creates a problem with lack of playmaking". Wilbekin: "I already know there’s gonna be a good environment". Caloiaro: "We have to play good team defense and fight all 40 minutes"
“All of us are excited here about the beginning new season”, said Coach Neven Spahija. “I don’t know how much we are ready for this game but definitely I expect one step forward compared to our Panathinaikos game. As you know in these two days including the game in Eilat we prepared something for when Scottie is on the bench and that’s it. Everybody knows how good and deep is CSKA no matter who is in or out in any condition, we really want to play hard, tough and better defense than in Panathinaikos”.
“I already know there’s gonna be a good environment”, said Scottie Wilbekin, who saw the arena covered in yellow and blue. “You prepare to CSKA the same way you prepare for every team, going through their scouting and personal and players and listening to the coach’s game plan. Barcelona had a lot of turnovers against them which is why the point deferential was so big, and that was a problem for us in the Panathinaikos game and we’re trying to fix it and it’s important we’ll fix it for this game”.
“Obviously they’re a really good team so we got to play together and play tough”, said Angelo Caloiaro, who knows what’s at stake. “We have to play good team defense and fight all 40 minutes. For sure in good teams when someone is absent someone else steps up, you just got to continue you can’t stop and worry about it you have got to continue and fight and I think we have that spirit as a team and we’re going to try our best”.
CSKA grabs the 86:89 win at the Menora
CSKA imposed their will early in the game, Maccabi fought back fiercely and even took the lead in the third but ended falling short as CSKA took the win. Caloiaro 21P and Black 15P led the scorers in yellow and blue
Coach Neven Spahija’s starting five: Wilbekin, O’Bryant, Caloiaro, Black and Roll. De-Colo led CSKA to an early 3:9 lead forcing coach Spahija to call for a timeout. O’Bryant’s hustle found Roll for a
three pointer to Keep Maccabi in the game (9:6)). De Colo scored again but Maccabi reacted with back to back threes by Roll and Caloiaro to take the 12:11 edge. CSKA took the lead again but Scottie and Kane tied the game with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Hunter and Clyburn gave CSKA the 19:24 lead but Kane reacted with a three point play. Both teams didn’t score till the end of the first as the yellows trail 22:24.CSKA increased their lead to 24:31 at the beginning of the second quarter forcing coach Spahija to call for a timeout, Black brought the yellows closer to the Russians (27:33). But De Colo and Higgins capitalized again to make it 31:40. Maccabi remained focused as they completed a 6:0 run to make it 37:40. Rodriguez and Caloiaro exchanged threes with two minutes remaining in the first half (40:43). Maccabi’s pick n roll offense paid off time and again as they made it a
one point game but De Colo scored a buzzer beating three as CSKA takes the 46:50 lead at half time.Caloiaro continued hustling on both ends of the floor as he brought Maccabi to within a striking distance (50:52). Amazing ball movement by Spahija’s squad ended with Wilbekin scoring from downtown giving Maccabi the 55:54 lead CSKA reacted as they took the 57:59 lead. Caloiaro could not be denied as he complete a
four point play to put Maccabi ahead 63:59. Hines and Antonov trimmed Maccabi’s lead to 66:65. Higgins gave CSKA the edge but O’Bryant made sure the yellows will finish the third quarter ahead 68:67.Antonov and Hines scored at the beginning of the fourth as they took the 68:71 lead but Wilbekin and Caloiaro tied the game. A 5:0 run forced coach Spahija to call for a timeout (71:76). Black and Zoosman kept Maccabi in the game (75:80), Higgins scored a corner three but Kane answered from with a
three pointer of his own (79:85), Zoosman found Kane for a fastbreak layup to make it 81:85. Rodriguez increased CSKA’s lead to 83:88 from which Maccabi couldn’t come back as the visitors claim the 86:89 win.