Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Hapoel Gilboa/Galil in BSL action on Sunday night in a
game it could do without following its 40th State Cup triumph three days ago and
ahead of Thursday’s crucial Euroleague showdown against
Barcelona.
Maccabi had to dig deep to claim a 76-68 win over Maccabi
Haifa at Nokia Arena last Thursday, trailing by four points with 6:40 left to
play before clinching the victory with a 14-2 run.
After lifting its
fourth straight cup with three wins over five days last week, the
yellow-and-blue hosts Barcelona on Thursday in a showdown it essentially has to
win to keep alive its lingering hopes of advancing to the Euroleague
quarterfinals.
However, while it has already turned much of its focus to
Barca, Maccabi will want to ensure it doesn’t enter Thursday’s game following an
unexpected loss against Gilboa.
Maccabi takes a 12-game BSL winning
streak into Sunday’s game in Gan Ner, while Gilboa fell to a defeat at Hapoel
Eilat in its most recent contest two weeks ago following two straight
wins.
“We are having a tough time in the Euroleague and winning the cup
was very important to us,” said standin captain Shawn James, who lifted the cup
together with injured captain Lior Eliyahu and former disgraced captain Guy
Pnini. “We always believe in ourselves and this win gives us confidence. Maccabi
has won many titles, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy to do. We fight for
every title and for every game.”
Haifa will look to rebound from
Thursday’s frustrating loss when it hosts Hapoel Tel Aviv on Sunday.
Also
Sunday, Maccabi Rishon Lezion welcomes Barak Netanya and Eilat visits Hapoel
Holon.
On Monday, Hapoel Jerusalem hosts Bnei Herzliya and Ironi Ashkelon
plays Maccabi Ashdod.
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