By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Israel Basketball State Cup semifinals field received its fourth entry as Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv rallied to defeat Hapoel Nofar Energy Galil Elyon, 88-77, Monday night.
Florida alumnus Scottie Wilbekin poured a team-high 16 points in the win on the road. Keenan Evans logged 13 points. Derrick Williams and Yiftach Ziv packed ten points each completing the double-digit scoring pack. Itay Moskovich scored a game-high 18 points but was held on the wrong end of the result.
The team coached by Giannis Sfairopoulos outscored its opponent, 26-7, in the third quarter. It went from trailing for most of the first half to controlling the game on a double-digit distance through the fourth quarter.
Hapoel SP Tel Aviv, Hapoel U-NET Holon, Bnei Ofek Dist Herzliya were already through in the State Cup semifinals. Maccabi will meet Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Holon will take on Bnei Herzliya next Monday. The semifinals winners will compete for the title three days later, February 17. Tel Aviv’s Menora Mivtachim Arena will be the host of the remaining fixtures.
Before the State Cup Final Four, the Yellows will collide with CSKA Moscow in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 26 action Thursday. They will be looking to improve to 10-12 after falling 1.5 games behind the top eight spots awarding a berth to the 2022 Playoffs. So far in the latest campaign in Europe’s premier club continental competition, Maccabi has won seven out of ten games at home.
Photo Credit: Maccabi Tel Aviv BC Twitter