Maccabi seeks another Italian triumph on route to playoffs
The Yellows hope to officially guarantee their place in the Euroleague top-8 with a win over Olimpia Milano at home. Kattash: "We should focus on the game and not its consequences"
29/03/2023
HOME·News Archive· Maccabi seeks another Italian triumph on route to playoffs
48 hours after putting on one of its best performances this season, beating Virtus Bologna 111:80, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will return to Menora Mivtachim Arena on Thursday (9 pm Israel time) to meet another Italian opponent, Olimpia Milano. The Yellows will hope to maintain their tremendous momentum and officially secure a playoff berth.
It won't come easy. Ettore Messina's team has won eight of its last nine, mainly due to the addition of Shabazz Napier, who leads Milano in scoring (14.7 per game). Nevertheless, at home, in front of its fans, Maccabi should find ways to extend its winning streak, which currently stands at nine.
Speaking in the press conference ahead of the game, Oded Kattash attempted to keep his team focused on the game, not its consequences. "This is an important one, but we're trying not to look at the table and just play our basketball. I trust my players to make the adjustments needed to contain Milano's aggression."
"It's a big game for us against an in-form opponent", said Lorenzo Brown, who was a key factor in Maccabi's impressive run. "Milano has been playing great lately, but so do we. We'd have to keep the same energy level on both sides of the court. I feel that if we do that and play with the same mentality we've shown in recent games, we will get this win."
Maccabi makes it ten with another incredible home performance
The Yellows extended their winning streak to ten after an outstanding 85:66 victory over Olimpia Milano and could secure a playoff ticket. Sorkin led the scorers with 18 points
30/03/2023
HOME·News Archive· Maccabi makes it ten with another incredible home performance
If this is a dream, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has no real reason to wake up. The Yellows provided yet another excellent performance at Menora Mictachim Arena, defeating Olimpia Milano 85-66 and claiming their tenth win in a row (six in the Euroleague). Roman Sorkin led Maccabi with 18 points, but focusing on individuals on an evening like this feels wrong.
Every element we've seen in Maccabi's current run of great results appeared again today, especially in the first half, with beautifully timed rotations on defense, attacking flow, ball-sharing, and players willing to sacrifice for each other. This mix of factors, along with support from the fans, left the Italians freezing while Maccabi looked steaming hot from the get-go.
Milano led 7-6 three minutes into the first quarter, but that was the last time the Yellows saw the visitors ahead. Roman Sorkin and the dynamic duo of Brown and Baldwin pushed their teammates to a second-quarter 22-9 run which set the halftime score at 53-36.
The momentum shifted in the second half, with Milano coming as close as six (66-60) in the fourth, but the hosts held off the comeback attempt and regained control. John DiBartolomeo's three-pointer increased the lead to 14 (76-62), effectively putting the game away and setting the stage for justified celebrations.