Aleksandar Dzikic continues to deliver phenomenal results. The Serbian coach led Hapoel from Jerusalem to victory in the League Cup, as his team defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 79-71.
The first quarter hinted at a fierce battle in this game. The teams constantly exchanged the lead, and after ten minutes of basketball, the score was tied at 20-20.
Maccabi played better in the second quarter. Through solid defense, they managed to pull ahead and establish a double-digit lead. Hapoel kept some semblance of connection, going into halftime with an eight-point deficit.
It’s evident that Aleksandar Dzikic spurred a reaction from his basketball players with halftime advice. In the following part of the game, Hapoel played much better. Through excellent defense, they staged a comeback and gained a five-point lead.
Maccabi started the final quarter better and took a lead of 59-58. However, it was followed by an 11-0 run from Hapoel, which propelled the Jerusalem team to a double-digit lead. The Israeli champions tried to make a comeback but couldn’t succeed.
Speedy Smith led his team to victory with 21 points, while Lorenzo Brown was the top performer for Maccabi with 16 points.
Dzikic has thus set the stage for another successful season with Hapoel, following last season’s victory in the Israeli Cup and their appearance in the FIBA Champions League final.