By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Israelis kept their playoff spot after defeating Brose Bamberg 90 – 88 in a tough game in the Menora Mivtachim Arena. The German champions have just six victories under their belt while Neven Spahija’s men jumped to 9-8 record.
With less than 90 seconds left, DeShaun Thomas put Maccabi in front (90 – 88) and that was enough. Bamberg had several chances to send the game to overtime but Augustine Rubit failed to score first and then he committed a decisive turnover. Pierre Jackson paced Maccabi in the last minutes not just offensively but by stealing the ball on the last possession.
The star: Michael Roll had a career-high of 23 points and John Dibartolmeo added 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists for Maccabi. Pierre Jackson finished with 11 points, 8 assists and a decisive steal. Sixers‘ pick Jonah Bolden contributed with a double-double (10 p., 10 r.).
The Israelis struggled defensively in the first quarter (20 – 25), but slightly improved in the second and headed the lockers two points behind (39 – 41).
After Dibartolomeo’s crescendo ending the third, Ricky Hickman had a rocking entrance in the last quarter with 13 points in just three minutes. Michael Roll had the answer and the game was decided in the last minutes.
Not enough: Ricky Hickman (23 p.) and Dejan Musli (20 p.) led Bamber in Tel Aviv.