Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv faced Ironi Ness Ziona in the domestic league's third round opener wanting to continue their positive momentum. The visitors took the lead in the first quarter but Maccabi remained poised making their opponents enter chase mode. Ness Ziona completed their comeback in the fourth thanks to an 8:0 run but the crew in yellow and blue answered with a crushing 17:0 run enroute of an 86:74 home win. The yellows remain on top of the domestic standings with a record of 19:4. The next EuroLeague mission: Herbalife Gran Canaria on Thursday.
Coach Sfairopoulos' starting five: Wilbekin, Zoosman, Caloiaro, Cohen and Black. Zana was the first to score in the game, Zoosman reacted from deep but Cook and Ramirez kept Ness Ziona ahead 3:6. Cohen and Zoosman brought the crew in yellow and blue closer to the visitors (10:11). Zana and Ramirez scored with ease to make it 15:19 with just under 03:30 remaining in the first quarter. Zoosman and Roll scored back to back threes but Zana had the final say in the first quarter to put his team ahead 23:26.
Tyus' jumper sparked an 8-2 run for Maccabi who completed the comeback at the beginning of the second quarter (31:28). Cook scored four points to give his team the 34:36 edge but Tyus answered with four points of his own (38:36). Johnny was on fire as he increased Maccabi's lead to 43:38. Ness Ziona completed a 10:2 to take the 45:48 lead but Scottie ended the first half in style hitting the deep dagger to tie the game (48:48).
Both teams started the third quarter trading blows with neither one of the sides being able to capitalize (53:52). Maccabi got into their offensive rhythm taking the 59:54 lead. Dan and Cook scored to bring Ness Ziona to within striking distance (61:60). Johnny was the last to score in the third quarter putting Maccabi ahead 63:60.
The squad of coachSfairopuolos entered the fourth quarter blazing with Roll and John-Di hitting back to back threes to make it 69:62. Ness Ziona completed an 8:0 run to take the edge but John-Di and Pargo reacted right away to keep the visitors at bay (75:70). The yellows could not be denied as they delivered one blow another enroute of the 86:74 home win.