May 24, 2012
Israeli Cup Quarterfinals, 2nd leg: January 13-14, 2007
Nikola Vujcic Maccabi Elite Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem qualified for the Israeli Cup semifinals over the weekend with aggregate victories, despite the champs suffering their first domestic contest of the season. The Israeli League giants will be joined by Bnei Hasharon and Ironi Ramat Gan among the competition's last four sides. Maccabi lost at Ironi Nahariya 84-80 after leading by as many as 18 points, advanced to the semis thanks to the protection from a 14-point win from the first leg. Nikola Vujcic had another big game to saved Maccabi from potential trouble. Hapoel didn't sweat at home against Maccabi Givat Shmuel, winning 96-83, while Bnei Hasharon lost on the road 92-81, but was protected by a 25-point win from the first leg. Lee Nailon led Bnei Hasharon with 22 points and Cookie Belcher added 16. Guni Izraeli had 23 points and 7 assists to pace the locals. Ironi Ramat Gan had to recover from an 89-85 loss to Yoqneam/Megido of the National League in the first leg and a 94-68 home win was more than enough to take coach Avner Yoar's gang to the semis. John Allen scored 22 and Jai Lewis 21 for Ramat Gan.

Maccabi traveled to Nahariya with a 14 point lead from the first leg and escaped with an 84-80 loss that gave the defending cup holder a ticket to the semifinals. Maccabi lost for the first time this season to an Israeli team, and wasn't far from elimination. Vujcic and Lior Eliyahu dominated the paint to lead Maccabi to a 6-13 lead on the way to 17-20 after 10 minutes. Coach Neven Spahija sent Noel Felix on court and received 13 points from the big guy until half time, when Maccabi led 36-48. A little over a minute inside the second half Maccabi finished a 0-6 run to take an 18-point lead, and a total 32-point margin with the first leg, but then Nahariya woke up and started its comeback. At first the hosts answer was a 10-2 run, but the locals kept pushing and finished the third quarter down 58-62 after a three-pointer by Verdan Vukusic. One minute inside the last quarter Nahariya tied the score to finalize a 26-8 run. Maccabi missed too many foul shots and Raviv Limonad nailed a three-point shot to put Nahariya on top, 65-63, with 7 minutes to play. Juan Mendez made it a 9-point game with 2 minutes to go and Nahariyahad the momentum, but Vujcic scored a key hook shot and Will Bynum was perfect with 4 free throws to keep Maccabi alive in the run for the cup. Vujcic led Maccabi in another great game with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists, Eliyahu added 16 points of his own, Felix gathered 13 first-half points and Derrick Sharp had 11 points. Mendez led Nahariya with 25 points, Limonad had a huge game with 17 points and 12 assists, Ido Kozikaro scored 15 and Amit Ben David finished with 11 points.

Hapoel was able to maintain its first leg win and easily qualify to the next round with a 13-point win over visiting Givat Shmuel. The road team took a surprising 20-25 lead, but finished the first quarter down 27-26. Givat stayed close behind but, half way through the second quarter, visiting coach Ofer Berkovic was ejected after a second technical foul. From that point on Hapoel took over on the way to a 50-36 halftime lead. Dror Hagag maintained the big gap in the third quarter, and didn't allow Givat Shmuel to make a comeback. Terrence Morris used the last quarter to collect more minutes and experience with his new club, as Hapoel surfed to a 96-83 win. Hagag finished with 20 points, Guy Pnini had 18, Timmy Bowers added 15, Morris 14 and Mario Austin 10. Jay Straight with 24 and Wayne Wallace with 20 led Givat Shmuel.


Sunday, January 14, 2007
Yarone Arbel, Euroleague.net

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