Maccabi Tel Aviv dominate the quarter-final game, advance to the League Cup semifinal / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Sports Rabbi Credit Sports Rabbi

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv beat Maccabi Rishon Lezion 87-68 (25-28, 19-9, 22-8, 21-23) in the first official game and advanced to the Israel League Cup semis where they will face Hapoel Jerusalem.

At the start of the first quarter, the action was even, neither team gained a tangible advantage. However, Maccabi Rishon Lezion played a better stretch at the end of the period and gained a three-point lead (28-25).

In the second quarter, Tel Aviv's club locked up opponents and let them score only 9 points per 10 minutes. Meanwhile, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv posted 19 and took control of the game into their own hands (44-37). They closed the first half with an 8-0 run.

In the third period, the story repeated. Maccabi Rishon Lezion could not score, whileGiannis Sfairopoulos' squad was running away. They spurted 12-0 and decided the winner of the match (66-45).

The last quarter did not bring any hope for Maccabi Rishon Lezion.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv: Ante Zizic 14, Yiftach Ziv 11, Oz Blayzer 9, Jake Cohen 9, James Nunnally 9, Keenan Evans 7 (6 AST).

Maccabi Rishon Lezion: T. J. Williams 16, Kris Clyburn 10, Malik Dime 10.

The yellows missed Scottie Wilbekin, Jalen Reynolds, and Derrick Williams in their first official game. On the other hand, Yiftach Ziv and John DiBartolomeo were listed on the roster. They didn't play against Bney-Herzeliya last week.

Maccabi's full roster for the game: Keenan Evans, Angelo Caloiaro, Kameron Taylor, Roman Sorkin, John DiBartolomeo, Oz Blayzer, Jake Cohen, James Nunnally, Ante Zizic, Yiftach Ziv, Ido Menchel, Oded Brandwin.

Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.