#	Team	W/L
5.	Barcelona	0-0
6.	Fenerbahce	0-0
7.	Maccabi Playtika TA	1-1
8.	Baskonia Vitoria	0-0
9.	Anadolu Efes	0-0
10.	Virtus Bologna	0-0
11.	Partizan Belgrade	0-0
12.	Olimpia Milano	0-0
13.	Zalgiris Kaunas	0-0

Spahija: "We'll be ready it's like a EuroLeague game"

The yellows coach towards the Israeli cup semis versus Ashdod (Monday 17:45 CET, Sport5): "I have a lot of respect for Ashdod, and we will come ready to a game that is not going to be simple"

11/02/2018

HOME · News Archive · Spahija: "We'll be ready it's like a EuroLeague game"

With the Israeli cup title on the line the yellows who won the last eight Israeli Cups have started their preparations towards the semifinals against Ashdod on Monday who are coming to this game with a six games winning streak in the Israeli league. The second semifinal (Hapoel Jerusalem vs Hapoel Holon) will be played at 20:15 CET.

"This tournament is a festival" said coach Spahija during the festive press conference held earlier at the Menorah Mivtachim arena where the final stages of the tournament will be played. "When I came back to Israel, I was really impressed by the level of the organization at the winner cup, and I'm proud to be a part of that. Brad has a lot of experience and I know he is coming to win, and that's how it should be in sport. We'll be ready, it's like a EuroLeague game; I have a lot of respect for Ashdod, and we will come ready to a game that is not going to be simple. One of the keys is the rebound but there are a lot of other different keys that are needed to be taken into account".

"I think there's always pressure when playing in these stages" said John DiBartolomeo, "Eight consecutive cups is very impressive but we don’t want to add extra pressure which is why we won't think about it, we just want to come and get the job done. It's a great opportunity and it'll be a great honor to win the cup. Our focus is solely on the game tomorrow, we'll take it one step at a time".

"We're having a great run, but the game tomorrow is an entirely different story" said Ashdod's Coach Brad Greenberg, "Maccabi is a strong EuroLeague team so we will try to come and do our best towards this big challenge. Maccabi are a better team and I have a great respect for what they are doing. What happened last year doesn't mean too much, both Neven and I were in different places. David Laury will not be here tomorrow it's a shame but it's just how things are".

Maccabi gets the 76:73 over Ashdod in Israeli Cup semis

Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, opened the game strong but Ashdod managed to came back, clutch back to back threes (Cole and Jackson) and successful free throw by John-Di secured the 76:73 win in an eventful game

12/02/2018

HOME · News Archive · Maccabi gets the 76:73 over Ashdod in Israeli Cup semis

Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv secured its 2018 Israeli Cup finals after overpowering Ashdod 76:73. The yellows will now try to win their ninth consecutive Israeli cup, an achievement previously set 11 years ago. John-Di scored 18 points for the winners as he also scored the three pointer that completed the yellow comeback deep in the fourth quarter after coach Spahija got ejected.

Coach Spahija's starting five: Jackson, John-Di, Roll, Cohen and Art. Cohen and John-Di gave Maccabi the early 5:0 lead two minutes into the game, Art increased the yellows lead to 9:2, Ashdod reacted with an 11:0 run to take the 13:9 lead forcing coach Spahija to call for a timeout. John-Di scored five points as Maccabi regained its lead (14:13). Ashdod maintained its focus from previous minutes to finish the first quarter with the 19:16 lead.

Tyus completed a three point play at the beginning of the second quarter to tie the game at 19 apiece, Long reacted for Ashdod but John-Di tied the game again. Both teams struggled to score over the next few minutes with Ashdod being the first to capitalize as they took the 26:23 lead. John-Di continued scoring for the yellows cutting down Ashdod's lead to within a striking distance (31:30). Ashdod called for a timeout from which they returned with a 4:0 run (35:30), Art completed a three point play as the yellows finished the first half trailing 35:33.

Jonah and Pierre scored for the yellows at the beginning of the third quarter to take the 38:37 lead, Chubrevich continued in his dominance in the paint tied the game, Tyus' "Air Time" to give the yellows the 42:39 lead forcing coach Greenberg to call for a timeout. Ashdod remained poised enroute of taking the 44:42 lead. Cole scored for the yellows but Ashdod didn’t panic as they took the 50:44 lead completing the 11:2 run. Art and Jake took Ashdod's lead down to just two points but Chubrevich reacted, Cole scored at the end of the third to send the teams to the decisive quarter with the yellows trailing 53:52.

Ashdod started the fourth with a 4:0 run (57:52), Ashdod increased their lead to 61:53 after coach Spahija got ejected due to two technical fouls called against him, both teams exchanged baskets (65:57) with six minutes left in the game forcing coach Goodes to call for a timeout. The yellows came back swinging with a 7:0 run (65:64), John-Di completed the yellow comeback striking from distance giving the yellows the 67:65 lead; Cohen continued the yellow run (12:0) from the free throw line as the scoreboard showed 69:65. Lee made it a one point game from the free throw line. Cole scored a clutch three to put Maccabi ahead 72:68, Ashdod reacted with a three pointer forcing coach Goodes to call for a timeout with 33 seconds remaining with the yellows ahead 72:71. Jackson scored from distance (75:71) Henry scored for Ashdod but John-Di secured the 76:73 win from the free throw line. Securing a 9th consecutive appearance in the Israeli Cup finals.