The negative momentum continues: only two days after they lost to Bayern Munich in the Euroleague, Maccabi Tel Aviv also lost in the Premier League – tonight (Saturday), when they surrendered 91:85 to Hapoel Eilat at Begin Hall. Yannis Sapropoulos’ yellows were already 12 points behind at the break, and will have to stop the avalanche quickly – already on Tuesday, the strong CSKA Moscow awaits them, for a game in which the Israeli champion must win to stay in the battle for the “Top 8”.
Maccabi Tel Aviv coach, Yannis Sapropoulos, Was as usual very clear about the game: “We allowed our opponent to play her game, at her own pace, and take advantage of our loss of the ball to score easy points in an explosive attack. We just did not adapt ourselves to their energy.”
“After you absorb 52 points in the half, it’s not easy to come back,” the Greek coach continued. “We tried, and we also played better in the second half, we reduced the difference to three or four points. But in those minutes, we couldn’t keep concentration, and when you chase the whole game, it gets harder and harder.”
The one who spoke for the first time, after a month-and-a-half absence due to the stomach virus, was Omri Caspi, Who commented on his personal situation: “I feel better, we went through a crazy month and a half. Glad that lately I can get a little out of the minute limit and play continuously. I will have to make the adjustments to continue.”
As for the continuation of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Caspi said: “We were unlucky, but from now on we will have to give good basketball and win the games on. We have important games on Tuesday and Thursday, we hope to win them and then we’ll see what happens next. It was fun to return today to play in front of the crowd (of Eilat), in our house – with our fans – we believe that any team can be won. “
