Maccabi Rishon LeZion comes back from 18 down to win Group D

Maccabi Rishon LeZion is the winner of Group D in Delasport Balkan League. In a direct battle for the first place the team defeated Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 79-73 away thanks to a great final quarter. Before it the home team had a double-digit lead but Maccabi never gave up and took the victory at the end.

Now Maccabi advances to the Semifinal round where it will host Hapoel Gilboa Galil on Wednesday evening. The winner from that match will go through to the Second Stage of Delasport Balkan League. Hapoel Jerusalem had its chances not only in this game but in the group as well, but having lost its two final games, the team ended in second place. It was also a bitter debut for the new head coach Dainius Adomaitis who lost his first game at the helm of the team.

Hapoel had a better first half and by winning the first two quarter, was up by 12 points at the break. The biggest difference was 13 points for the home team but in the third quarter it was increased to 18. The visitors managed to close some of the deficit but still after 30 minutes Hapoel led by 12 points. Maccabi played great defense in the final quarter and thanks to an opening 12-0 run, the score was tied with 5 minutes to play. Then Hapoel answered with 7 points in a row but the visitors scored the next 11 to take the lead for the first time since the early minutes. Hapoel tied quickly but with 4 points in a row Maccabi took the lead for good and held on in the final 60 seconds.

Darryl Monroe was the top scorer for the winners with 16 points while adding also 5 rebounds. The October MVP Akil Mitchell finished with 14 and 12 for a double-double as Noam Dovrat scored 13 points and dished out 5 assists.

The hosts were led by Adi Cohen Saban and Jamil Wilson who scored 13 points apiece as Suleiman Braimoh had 12 and 8 rebounds.

BOXSCORE