By Amy Samin
“Jeter’s (1.79 meters, or 5’10”) rebound over Fischer (2.11 meters or 6’11”) proved that they really wanted it,” said Pini Gershon after Maccabi’s 84 – 79 victory over Hapoel.
“All of the teams in the league wanted a win, and needed a win - except for us.
We didn’t need the win, but we don’t know how to lose.
A so-so game for us was enough for the win; the atmosphere here helped us get the win.
The Russian Rule (that two Israeli players per team must be on the court at all times) hurt them more than it hurt us.”
“We shouldn’t have let them make that run,” added the coach.
“The players did the right things in the fourth quarter, although they forced me to scream at them.
I was relaxed throughout the game until the last minute.
In a game like this, you don’t need to do more than want to win.
We can play better.
We’re at the beginning of our way (to the championship) and we could have guarded better.”
“I’m happy that we showed character,” said Guy Pnini, who went to town against his former teammates with 23 points in the game, including an amazing 17 points in the first half.
When asked what’s next, he replied, “We’re looking to the championship.”
“We’ve had a good season in the Israeli league,” concluded Gershon, “and I just hope we’ll keep it up in the remaining month and a half.”
When asked about Yaniv Green’s entrance and speedy exit from the game after only seconds had passed, Gershon said, “Every one of the players plays as much as the team needs him to.
When Green went into the game, I didn’t intend to take him out, but that’s what was needed.”
Doron Perkins, who finished the game with 11 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, said, “We came back from the deficit in the third quarter and won the game.
We have home court advantage for the championship and I hope we’ll go all the way.”
“It’s typical of Maccabi that they won the game with two three pointers,” said Hapoel player Uri Kokia.
“We really wanted to win this game, and it was a close one.
We’ve had a hard week, but that’s part of the profession.
We did our best and it wasn’t enough.
If we win next week we’ll be in second place, as long as Netanya doesn’t win.
It doesn’t matter in what position we finish the season, it’s going to be a tough series in the quarter final.”