Maccabi Tel Aviv does not intend to take risks with the forward returning from a long injury • Dibertolomeo wants to play • Sapropolos on the confrontation with Sandy Cohen in 75:81 against Hapoel Haifa: "He who does not obey the rules finds himself out"
Caspi, last night at the hall.
Missed
Photography:
Alan Shiver
1. Despite the 75:81 victory over Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv is restless.
Sandy Cohen clashed with Yannis Sapropoulos during the game, Scotty Wilbkin and Tyler Dorsey were furious at the refereeing and other players did not seem particularly calm either.
"Ultimately in sports you have to win and when we lose in the Euroleague these are the results," say the team, "but overall there is a good atmosphere in the locker room and even if there are nerves they do not exist among the players."
At the end, Sapropoulos tried to reassure: "What happened to Sandy can happen during the game. He was frustrated, but we have discipline and rules and when someone does not obey them, he is out. Overall we played well and controlled the game, and this victory came to us."
2. If we put the nerves aside for a moment, the main story was of course the return of Omri Caspi and John Dibertolomeo to the pitches after about a year.
The Yellows are very pleased with the return of the two and are confident that together with Yuval Sussman, who is also scheduled to return in the coming weeks, the team will receive a moral and professional boost in the Euroleague as well.
"They give us confidence, pace to play, offensive and defensive," said the pleased Sapropolos, "their performance shows how much we were missing them."
In the next 48 hours, the two will be examined by the medical staff and after talks that will take place, it will be decided whether they will be on the roster for the game against Milan on Thursday.
It currently appears that there is a low chance that Caspi will be a partner, and the team will prefer not to risk it but to continue his integration in the next league game against Urbani Nahariya on Sunday.
Dibertolomeo claims he feels good and can play against the Italian team, but a decision will be made only after consultation with the medical staff.
Even if he plays, he will be under a minute limit.
"I missed it, it was great to come back, I've been waiting for it for a long time and thinking about it for a long time, in the difficult moments I really wanted to come back, I dream of these fans. Great to be with everyone, and I'm happy to be here," said the yellow captain.
"I have to work on my return to the game, it will take some time, I have to take down some rust, and I will try to contribute in any way I can, offensively and defensively. It's always my job, my whole career."
"We expect Sussman to return soon, and help us meet the goal and achieve Euroleague victories. We have lost a few games in the last attacks, so Omri and I will try to help the team as much as possible."