By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv and Valencia Basket faced off in a clash between two in-form teams.
And it was the home team that got a very hard-fought win.
The home side claimed an 85–82 victory, leaving Oded Kattash’s team with a 7–10 record.
The Spanish side remain in the upper part of the standings, but drop to 11–6. Iffe Lundberg had his best game in a Maccabi jersey, finishing with 12 points and 7 assists. Lonnie Walker was the leading scorer for the hosts with 14 points.
Brancou Badio (14 points) and Kam Taylor (15 points) led Pedro Martínez’s team offensively, but their efforts were not enough to challenge for the win.
Despite Valencia starting the game much better and building an eight-point lead in the first quarter, Maccabi quickly took control of the tempo.
The second quarter ended with a six-point advantage for the hosts (47–41), merely a prelude to what was to come.
The second half was a celebration for the home team, as they opened up their first double-digit lead (64–54) and enjoyed the moment with their fans.
In the final quarter, the hosts’ mission was to keep the visitors at bay… always a difficult task against Valencia Basket.
On three occasions, the visiting side had the chance to force overtime, but none of the three three-point attempts in the closing seconds went in, and the victory stayed in Israel.