By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A tremendous defensive effort earned Zenit Saint-Petersburg its seventh away win of the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, 78-72, over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv Tuesday evening at the Menora Mivtachim Arena.
Alex Poythress matched his EuroLeague-high with a team-high 16 points behind 7/9 two-pointers. Mateusz Ponitka punched in 14 more points in the Regular Season Round 17 match.
“It was a team effort,” mentioned the top scorer after the conclusion, “We really hunkered down and played defense in that third quarter. We let it slip away a little in the fourth, but our team kept on pushing, our coaching staff kept on coaching us right and we got outta here with a W.”
“I hope in the second [half of the season] we can prove that we are also a good team at home!” said Ponitka referring to most of the wins so far achieved away from Saint-Petersburg, “Definitely when we go out in the road games, we kind of have a good team spirit.”
Kevin Pangos was running the show summing up 11 points and six assists, but the defense was once more the key for the team coached by Xavi Pascual. The hosts scored only 30 points through the second and third quarters.
Towards the end of the third period, the Russian outlet in its first-ever Tel Aviv visit opened a 16-point lead. Big stops down the stretch halted the comeback bid.
“More or less, we had control of the game because we took an advantage in the third quarter,” summed up Pascual, “Maccabi has amazing quality and they play very well with passion and character and they were ready to change the game. Finally through free throws and controlling the rebounds we were able to win.”
The rebounding edge, 34-23, delivered additional damage to Maccabi. Giannis Sfairopoulos’ side was coming off two wins in a row vastly improved on the boards. Othello Hunter suffering an early exit due to injury shaped a challenging situation inside.
“It hurt our rotations for sure,” the Greek head coach said replying to a question on the adjustments made with Hunter lasting only two minutes, “We did not have one of our two centers. We played Dragan Bender out of his natural position. Missing Othello, we lacked energy and intensity.”
Scottie Wilbekin went for 18 points in the defeat. Tyler Dorsey followed with 13 points.
“Unfortunately, we lacked some energy,” said John DiBartolomeo after his nine points, “We dug ourselves a hole early. We were playing catchup. That’s one of the things we try not to do because we want to set the tone from the beginning, which we didn’t do.”
Zenit up 10-5 will be back in action next Thursday visiting Panathinaikos OPAP after a VTB United League affair opposite Enisey Krasnoyarsk Sunday.
The losing side will be looking to bounce back after falling to 7-10 visiting ALBA Berlin next Thursday.