ULEB Cup: Hapoel J'lem defeated in Holland

Pnini gives Jerusalem early lead with four straight points (9-5), but the quarter ends in a 25-25 tie after a Tucker basket.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel JM 298.88 (photo credit: AP)
Hapoel JM 298.88
(photo credit: AP)
Hapoel Jerusalem fell to its first ULEB Cup defeat of the season on Tuesday night, losing 101-94 to Den Bosch in the Netherlands. Jerusalem left for the game only hours after the traumatic fire-cracker explosion in Malha on Sunday night and the players were undoubtedly still effected by the incident on Tuesday. Pnini, who scored 13 points in the first period, gave Jerusalem an early lead with four straight points (9-5), but the quarter ended in a 25-25 tie after a Tucker basket. A Yehu Orland three pointer opened an eight point cushion (44-36) in the second half of the second period and Jerusalem seemed to be cruising. The Dutch champion, however, went on a half-ending 15-2 run and took a five point lead into the break. Marcel Aarts' basket extended the hosts lead to 58-50 at the start of the second half and Den Bosch was now in control. Jerusalem edged its way back to within touching distance of its opponents and two successful free-throws by Pnini tied the score at 74-74 at the end of the third quarter. The fourth period opened with a steal by Pnini, who set up Timmy Bowers for a lay-up. The lead continued to switch hands throughout the final 10 minutes of the game, but the hosts were the more composed in the decisive moments and clinched the surprise win. Hapoel Galil Elyon crashed to another humbling defeat on Tuesday, losing 84-68 to Russian team Triumph Lyubertsy. Galil has lost all three of its BSL games to date and is now also 0-2 in the ULEB Cup. Igor Zamanskiy led the winners with 21 points, with Mire Chatman adding 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Clif Brown scored 16 points for Galil, with Mike Campbell and Gili Mosinzon each adding 13 points. Doron Sheffer had his best game for Hapoel since making a return to the side in the summer, scoring 10 points. Sheffer's three pointer at the end of the first period gave the team an 18-16 lead, but a 25-12 second period gave the hosts a commanding advantage at halftime (41-30). Galil managed to close within seven points (60-53) of Lyubertsy by the start of the fourth quarter, however the Russians extended their lead in the final 10 minutes and secured their second straight ULEB Cup win.