The Yellow & Blue summarized the win over Haifa in the State Cup. Sfairopoulos: “Defense is key to winning titles. When you play good defense, you have good rhythm on offense”
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv proceeded to the State Cup Quarter-Finals after a commanding 98:73 road victory over Hapoel Haifa. After a tight first half, Scottie Wilbekin, with the help of Yovel Zoosman and John DiBartolomeo, ran away from the Reds midway through the third quarter and never looked back for a convincing 25 point win.
Zoosman and DiBartolomeo, who are returning from lengthy injuries, scored in double figures after seeing extended minutes tonight, paying back with high energy, excellent defense, and high percentages from beyond the arc. Wilbekin knocked down 6 of 12 shots from deep while adding 8 assists. Ante Zizic (12 points and 10 rebounds), and Othello Hunter (9 points, 8 boards) completed one another inside as Tyler Dorsey (12 points), and Sandy Cohen (8 points) contributed reliable minutes.
“I want to congratulate our players for a great game. We were very concentrated throughout the game, and although we didn’t have a big lead in the first half, it was just a matter of time until we would find our rhythm by the way we were playing”, Analyzed head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos after clinching to the State Cup Quarter-Finals. “It was important that all of the players were contributors to this win, and I’m very happy to see the returning players play very well”.
“We play to win in all of the competitions we participate. It doesn’t usually happen as I don’t remember many teams winning 3-4 titles in one season. We are trying to win all of the games, but sometimes you fall on a bad day in a knockout game, it can happen. Defense is key to winning titles, we don’t underestimate our offense and the importance of moving the ball and playing smart. But as I’ve said many times before, when you play good defense, you have good rhythm on offense”.
“I’m happy with the way we played defense for most of the game. We kept them on 73 points, which is always a goal of ours to be effective on the defensive end, which creates our offense. I’m happy we came away with the win because Haifa is a tough team”, Said Maccabi’s captain John DiBartolomeo after the win.
“We have goals that we set at the beginning of the season. When it’s a cup week, we talk about the importance of the knockout game and how we want to win all the titles in Israel, but at this round, we have to take it game by game”.
