By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A one-sided affair opened the Playoffs in Israel. In Menora Mivtachim Arena crowd, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv strolled past Ironi Hai Motors Ness Ziona, 109-83, for a 1-0 lead in the Quarterfinals of Ligat Winner.
Starring in Game 1, Lorenzo Brown piled up 18 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals over 21 minutes for the reigning champions of Israel. Josh Nebo threw in 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. Jake Cohen piled up 14 points, Antonius Cleveland finished with 12 points, and Roman Sorkin put in ten more points.
In his first appearance since Game 5 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series against Panathinaikos Aktor, captain John DiBartolomeo bounced back from a hamstring strain with 15 points behind 5/5 three-pointers. Besides injured Wade Baldwin IV (left hamstring), the Yellows did not register James Webb III and Bonzie Colson to start the best-of-five series.
For the visitors, Isaiah Whitehead, a veteran of 89 appearances in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets, recorded a team-high 15 points, combined with a poor shooting total of 6/15 field goals and six turnovers.
Ligat Winner Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-five)
A – Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv – Ironi Hai Motors Ness Ziona 1-0 (109-83)
B – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – Hapoel Netanel Group Holon 0-0
C – Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv – Hapoel Shoval Haifa 0-0
D – Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan – Ironi Kiryat Lati Ata 0-0
Semifinals (best-of-three)
Winners A-B
Winners C-D
Finals (best-of-three)
Winners of Semifinals
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net