National Cup semi-final: Both teams do not reach the game in optimal condition but are looking for promotion to the prestigious status • The team from the capital has been defeated in the last 4 rounds and after the relegation from the Champions League looking for a reason to smile • The Oranges who have won once in the last 5 games
Brown vs. Gut, tonight at Drive In
Photography:
Alan Shiver
Thomas vs. Mitchell, tonight at Drive In
Photography:
Alan Shiver
Two groups that are used to meeting each other in every possible setting in recent years.
In the last two years they have competed in knockout matches in both the National Cup and the Final Four: in the league the Oranges have won twice - including a dramatic 97: 100 from a three-pointer by Adam Ariel on the buzzer - while in the Cup the Reds were on top: 67:82 in the 2019 final and 78:90 In the semifinals last year.
Both teams do not reach the game in optimal condition: Jerusalem opened the league with a balance of 0: 7, but since losing in the last four rounds, has been eliminated early from both the Balkan League and the Champions League where it has become accustomed to the playoffs.
The team will be missing Chris Kramer who was injured in the last round, but will get back captain Jacoben Brown, who has been great in the Cup games the previous two years.
Rishon LeZion is also not at its peak and in the last five rounds it has won only once - away against Nahariya which is ranked below the red line. Four of its losses this season in the league were on the edge of a basket, but this week it presented its weakest game and lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv 105: 77.
The Oranges have proven they know how to rise in playoffs in recent years and they will try to do so again from the underdog position, in search of a fourth Cup final in their history.
Jerusalem passed two top teams on the way to the semifinals: 81:90 at home against Hapoel "Yossi Avrahami" Eilat in the eighth and 65:80 away against Hapoel Gilboa / Galil in the quarterfinals.
Rishon LeZion defeated two rivals of the Winner Basket League in difficult home games: 80:87 over Hapoel "Altshuler Shaham" Beer Sheva and 83:88 over Urbani "Chai Motors" Ness Ziona.
Fives:
Maccabi Rishon Lezion:
Isaiah Taylor, Golan Gut, Noam Avivi, Daryl Monroe and Achilles Mitchell.
Hapoel Jerusalem:
Tamir Blatt, Malcolm Hill, Jacoben Brown, Suleiman Braimo and Tyson Thomas.