A second disappointment this season for the fans in the NOKIA Arena in a 89-99 defeat to Skipper Bologna. A hint of things to come we had right from the start when the Cisitors took a 11-04 lead.
Maccabi reversed the score and led 17-16 and for the last time in the game 23-22. At the end of the quarter Skipper had the edge 24-23. In the first five minutes of the second period the score was 02-02 and it ended 16-12 for the visitors who ked at the half 40-35.
The increased their lead to 51-41 and 63-50 in the 27th minute. At the end of the third the score read 70-61. A good start of the final period, mainly through David Bluthenthal and the margin was reduced to five pts (71-66). But the barrage of triplets continued and prevented any chance of a Maccabi comeback. The Bologna team had a double success as they won by 10 pts whilst Maccabi won in Bologna by seven.
Skipper were superior in two categories: They had 60% in three points shooting (15 from 25) and Maccabi 43% (9 from 21). They also dominated the offensive rebounds with 12 to Maccabi’s 5. The total rebounds showed Bologna 29 to Maccabi 22.
The surprise of the evening was David Bluthenthal who played 15 min, scored 12 pts, pulled down 2 rbds, dished 2 assists and had 2 steals. Best Maccabi player was Anthony Parker with 24 pts in 82%FG, 4 rbds, 2 assists & 2 steals.
Other Maccabi scorers: Jasikevicius 19 pts & 5 ass, Vujcic 18 pts & 5 rbds, Burstein 8, Sharp 5, Baston 2, Halperin 1.
Top scorers for Skipper: Smodis 27 (5-7 for 3pts), Vujanic 24 (6-9 for 3pts), Delfino 16 & Van den Spiegel 12 pts & 9 rbds.