Maccabi Tel Aviv will face Hapoel Jerusalem in the Final Four championship game Thursday night in a repeat of last year's final. Galil gave Maccabi a hard time before the yellows, led by Will Bynum’s 29 points, won 93-87.
Galil led throughout the first quarter as Maccabi could not stop Kenny Adeleke under the basket, 25-18 after 10 minutes. Omri Caspi gave Galil its biggest lead, 33-20, but midway through the second perios Maccabi finally started to play.
Quick 5 points by Yotam Halperin made sure that Maccabi was behind by only 2 points at halftime. The injured Vujcic was limited to 13 minutes, lior Eliyahu (a broken thumb) didn’t play at all.
Thanks to Bynum and Arnold Maccabi took control in the third quarter, 69-62.
A great fourth quarter by Simmons put Galil back in the game, but Bynum kept penetrating to the basket and Galil had a terrible night from the line (15 for 37, Adeleke 4 for 16). Jasaitis secured the victory with a tip-in 30 seconds to go, 93-87 at the end.
Maccabi:
Bynum 29, Arnold 19, Sharp 14, Halperin 8, Felix 6, Shason 5, Vujcic 5, Burstein 4, Jasaitis 3.
Galil Elyon: Adeleke 22, Simmons 16, Bratic 15, Caspi 12, Ohayon 11, Ben Shimol 5, Gordon 4, Mosinzon 2.