By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
After defeating CSKA in Moscow last week, Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv got past FC Barcelona Lassa at home, 99-83, in what was the team’s best performance this season, to improve to an 8-11 record. Tel Aviv’s squad is currently sitting at the ninth spot, and is just a game back from the eighth and final playoff spot.
The game was competitive early in the first quarter (23-20), as both teams were knocking down their shots, shooting over 50% from the field. In the second quarter, however, the hosts went on a 16-2 run sparked by John Dibartolomeo’s offensive brilliance, that put them up by 18 points (43-27). The lead even increased to 20+ points at the end of the first half (57-35), as Maccabi enjoyed its best half of the season, scoring 57 (!) points. In the second quarter alone, Maccabi outscored Barca 36-15, while in nine minutes of action, Dibartolomeo had an incredible outing of 14 points and four three-pointers (4/6 3FG).
Despite being up big in the second half, the home team had the right approach and did not stop there. Collectively as a team, Maccabi was raining threes, and eventually even went up by 36 points (76-40). Coach Sfairopoulos rested some his players in the fourth quarter, and as a result Svetislav Pesic’s side went on an impressive 0-20 run to start the fourth quarter, that would eventually cut the deficit to 13 points (85-72), but it was already too late for a comeback.
Dibartolomeo had to say the following after the victory: “We were up big. We played better the first two and a half quarters. We got to focus on playing the full 40 minutes. But overall we came in to get the win, and we did.”
All ten of Maccabi’s players scored, as five players finished in double-digits with Tarik Black leading the way with 16 points and six rebounds. Scottie Wilbekin added 15, as did Johny O’Bryant. For Barcelona, Pau Ribas finished with 13.
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