First title of the season: Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Asseco Prokom Gdynia 83 – 65 and took their first title of the 2010 – 2011 season. Blu, who was chosen MVP of the tournament, and Eliyahu were outstanding with 18 points each.
By Amy Samin
First title of the season: Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Prokom Gdynia 83 – 65 and took their first title of the 2010 – 2011 season.
Blue was selected MVP of the tournament.
Head coach David Blatt’s starting lineup for Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv included Doron Perkins, Tal Burstein, Chuck Eidson, Lior Eliyahu and Sofoklis Schortsanitis.
In the first two minutes of the game Sofo and Burstein scored from the free throw line, giving Maccabi a 4 – 0 lead.
Maccabi played strong on defense and generated points, while three from Guy Pnini put Maccabi up 13 – 2 with two minutes left in the quarter.
Maccabi didn’t let up, and at the end of the quarter Maccabi’s lead was in double digits, 16 – 5.
Maccabi continued to provide a demonstration of excellent ability in the second quarter, keeping Prokom out of the game.
The Poles weren’t discouraged though, and by halfway through the period had closed the gap to 24 – 22.
Their run was cut short by four straight points by Maccabi.
Prokom responded with a quick shot from downtown followed by points under the basket, making it 28 – 27, a minute and a half before the end of the half.
Shots from the charity stripe gave the Poles their first lead of the game, 30 – 28 with fifty seconds on the clock.
Maccabi managed to cut off Prokom’s run and went into halftime with a slim lead, 33 – 32.
Early in the third quarter, Sofo drove to the paint and drew a foul.
He nailed both free throws to give Maccabi a 40 – 32 lead.
The Poles chipped away at that lead, first making it 40 – 34, then 40 – 37.
Richard Hendrix also scored from the foul line, putting Maccabi up 55 – 47.
Prokom scored from three point range, then David Bluthenthal responded with a three of his own, giving Maccabi an eight point lead at the end of three quarters, 58 – 50.
At the start of the final period Blu continued to display his talent, with his basket plus foul giving Maccabi yet another double digit lead, 62 – 52.
For the remainder of the period Maccabi simply did as they pleased, expanding their lead with every possession.
The team also played extremely well on defense, preventing the Poles from scoring for minutes at a time during the game.
In the end, Maccabi came away with an 83 – 65 win over Prokom Gdynia and the title of the Wrocław Tournament.
Box Scores
Maccabi: Blu and Eliyahu 18 points each; Schortsanitis 11 points; Hendrix 10 points; Eidson and Pargo 7 points each; Pnini 4 points; Burstein 2 points; Kadir 1 point.
