On Wednesday: Maccabi kicks off Winner League playoffs
The Yellows will host Hapoel Beer Sheva for game 1 in the quarterfinals series. Baldwin and Nebo will not play. Kattash: "It's not always good to be favourites"
16/05/2023
HOME·News Archive· On Wednesday: Maccabi kicks off Winner League playoffs
After defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv in the city Derby and securing home-court advantage throughout Winner's League playoffs, now it's time for the real thing. On Wednesday at 6:30 (Israel time), Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will host Hapoel Beer Sheva for game 1 in a best-of-five quarterfinals series.
Wade Baldwin and Josh Nebo will sit out due to injuries, and Maccabi's roster for the game will include John DiBartolomeo, Lorenzo Brown, Jarell Martin, Rafi Menco, Roman Sorkin, Guy Pnini, Darrun Hilliard, Jake Cohen, Tomer Agmon, Alex Poythress, Yiftach Ziv, and Bonzie Colson.
Beer Sheva finished the regular season as the fifth-best offensive team in the league. The Reds' win-loss stands at 14-13, significantly inferior to Maccabi's 22-5. However, Oded Kattash doesn't take the challenge lightly.
"Being favorites isn't always a good thing," the Yellows' coach said. "You don't get second chances in the playoffs, so we must be 100 percent focused and not think this game will be easy."
Maccabi takes 1-0 lead in Winner's League quarterfinals playoff series
Darrun Hilliard's 17 pushed the Yellows to a hard-fought 86-77 victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva in game 1. On Sunday: Game 2
17/05/2023
HOME·News Archive· Maccabi takes 1-0 lead in Winner's League quarterfinals playoff series
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv took a 1-0 lead in Winner's League quarterfinals series with a hard-fought 86-77 victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva at the Menora Mivtachim Arena. Despite missing Wade Baldwin and Josh Nebo, who sat out due to injuries, the Yellows managed to secure an important win before heading to Beer Sheva for the second game.
Maccabi had the lead throughout most of the game, but poor shooting percentages from behind the arc and a high number of turnovers prevented the hosts from creating a decisive run until the final minutes.
The hosts came within touching distance late in the fourth, but Maccabi's MVP of this evening, Darrun Hilliard, made sure the yellow fans would return home satisfied. The guard scored 17 points and put the game away with a clutch three-pointer.
Game 2 will be played in Beer Sheva on Sunday. Another win will provide Maccabi the option to seal the series at home.