Jerusalem has already guaranteed itself a top-four finish and home-court advantage in the playoffs.
By ALLON SINAIMACCABI TEL AVIV’S Yogev Ohayon 370(photo credit: Adi Avishai)
The BSL regular season will come to an end on Sunday night with a classic showdown between Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv.Two of the four quarterfinal playoff series’ have already been set, with No. 1 seed Tel Aviv to play BC Habika’a (8) and Hapoel Gilboa/Galil (2) to come up against Maccabi Ashdod (7).Jerusalem has already guaranteed itself a top-four finish and home-court advantage in the playoffs, but it has its sights set on moving up to third place to ensure it can’t face the yellow-and-blue until the Final Four title game.However, as well as defeating Maccabi on Sunday, Jerusalem will also require Maccabi Rishon Lezion to lose at home to Ashkelon to climb to third and face Ashkelon in the quarters.Any other combination of results will see Jerusalem play Hapoel Holon in the playoffs, while Rishon will come up against Ashkelon.Game 1 of the quarterfinals will be played on April 29.“We understand that Jerusalem still has something to play for, but so do we,” said Maccabi forward Richard Hendrix, despite helping his team clinch first place at the end of the regular season long ago.“We are preparing ourselves for a tough environment at Malha Arena and we hope to leave with the victory. Every game is important at this stage of the season. The Adriatic League Final Four is just around the corner as is the BSL Final Four.”Also Sunday, Maccabi Ashdod will look to snap a two-game losing streak and gather momentum ahead of the playoffs when it hosts Bnei Hasharon.
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