Maccabi Tel Aviv – Alba 87-78: The counterattack began

Alba came close to the big surprise and double at the Menora Mivtachim Arena, but in the final, Maccabi was the one smiling. Thanks to back-to-back threes from Keenan Evans and John Dibartolomeo, the hosts finally tipped the plate their way and celebrated their second consecutive EuroLeague win (87-78), in a game postponed for the 20th game.

The race

The course of the first ten minutes showed that Maccabi Tel Aviv would not have an easy night. Alba players were consistent in kid shooting, played the game at high speed and took advantage of this situation. Gradually, however, the hosts tightened their defenses in the second half, made good use of the team fouls to be committed and, thanks to the action of Scotty Wilbekin and Derrick Williams, reached the limit of ten points first part by the end +8 (47- 39) for her.

Although the conditions were not in their favour, the Israel Gonthaleth players did not give up. Maodo Lo made a step forward, Joel Zusman seemed comfortable in his homeland until a few months ago and Alba has remained competitive. Even at -17 (65-48 in 27′) the guests didn’t let their heads get in the way. They kept running on the field, they were reliable in the two-point game and somehow they came back within five minutes to claim the win (69-64 in 32 minutes).

The guests’ counterattack had finally begun and was not to end anytime soon. Psychology obviously on their side, with two and a half minutes to go, Israel Gonthaleth’s players even managed to go within range (79-76) thanks to Maodo Lo. But when the overthrow was “baked,” two great Israeli three-pointers wrote the epilogue. Keenan Evans and John Dibartolomeo scored two three-pointers and eventually tilted the plate to their team, with Maccabi Tel Aviv posting a string of wins and looking to the future of the tournament with more optimism.

THE REFEREES: Javor-Lethkano-Racis.

THE TEN MINUTES: 23-23, 47-39, 67-58, 87-78.

MACABI TEL AVIV (Sfeiropoulos): Wilbekin 18 (6/10 two points, 2/4 three points, 6 assists, 3 steals), Evans 8 (2 three points, 8 assists, 3 steals), Caleiro, Williams 16 (5/5 two points , 2/6 three points, 4 rebounds), Taylor 11 (1), Reynolds 14 (6/11 two points, 2/2 shots, 6 rebounds), Dibartolomeo 5 (1/4 three points), Blazer, Cohen, Zizic 14 (5/6 two points, 4/6 shots).

ALBA (Gonthaleth): Lo 18 (5/6 two points, 2/2 three points, 2/2 shots, 4 penalties), Da Silva, Smith 4 (4 assists, Dilow 1, Matisek, Olindi 5 (1), Koumanji 8 (7 rebounds), Timan 6, Shikma 12 (3/5 two points, 2/2 three points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists), Blatt, Zusman 10 (2), Lammers 9.

Group Stats – Maccabi Tel Aviv: 27/45 two points, 8/23 three points, 9/12 shots, 22 rebounds (15 defensive + 7 offensive), 20 assists, 10 steals, 3 blocks.

Group Statistics – Alba: 22/41 two points, 7/13 three points, 13/17 shots, 29 rebounds (20 defensive + 9 offensive), 19 assists, 1 steal, 14 errors, 2 blocks.

The next commitments of the teams: Maccabi Tel Aviv will not play again this week after the game against Fenerbahce was postponed due to a coronavirus in the Turkish team. For his part, Alba returns to Germany to be tested at the Bayern Stadium (28.1., 9.30 p.m.).