By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
There was not much on the line other than pride in the game between Maccabi and Virtus, but it was enough motivation for the home side.
Maccabi got the 77-67 win as the Italians gave up in the third period after a mediocre first half.
Rokas Jokubaitis with 19 points set the tone, while Jimmy Clark with 14 points, and Roman Sorkin with 12 more followed.
Maccabi now has a 10-20 record and remains 16th in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings while the 17th Italians dropped to 7-23.
“It’s a little bit sad that we started to play like this at the end of the regular season, but everybody is happy, we are enjoying it and four wins in a row is a good number in the EuroLeague, even if we now play for pride”, said Jokubaitis after the final buzzer, adding on a personal note: “I am finally enjoying basketball again. I am feeling great, let’s go to the next one”.
Virtus didn’t have any player scoring in double digits during the first three quarters and in the end, Achille Polonara with 15, Will Clyburn with 13, and Ante Zizic with 11 managed to get over the hump during the last four minutes of an already decided game.
In total their team had just 6/33 threes on a night to remember.
Maccabi in total control
Virtus had a great start, opening the game with a 12-2 run, however, this proved to be just a facade.
Maccabi trailed just by two points at the end of the quarter (17-15) and despite Virtus’ effort which built again an eight-point cushion (25-17), the home side closed the first half leading by nine (42-33).
There was no coming back after that with Maccabi extending their advantage to 22 points (65-43) and entering the last period with the score being 65-45.
The lead of Maccabi was extended to 24 points (71-47) and the hosts simply relaxed, giving Virtus the chance to make the final points difference more respectable.
PHOTO CREDIT: EuroLeague