Maccabi Tel Aviv celebrates victory in Game 1 over Monaco (Elad Goldstein, Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Nine years of waiting for a victory in a playoff game in the Euroleague ended last night (Tuesday) in Maccabi Tel Aviv, who beat Monaco 67:79 away in the first game of the series and went up to a precious 0:1.
The Yellows managed to transfer the home advantage to themselves, when the atmosphere in the hall in the principality sometimes felt like home in light of the accompaniment of the many Israeli fans in the stands.
At the end, the team's players celebrated with the fans the connection between the victory and Independence Day with Israeli flags and the singing of the national anthem.
Oded Ketch, in his first Euroleague series in his coaching career, talked about what for him made the difference and led to a sure victory: "We played a great game, especially defensively, a lot of effort, it was a very physical game. I am very happy with the way the players came, they were determined and played Very aggressive, against the team that is perhaps the most aggressive in the Euroleague. We stopped them on six offensive rebounds, which was key from the beginning, a lot of effort was required, we won through the defense."
The home advantage went to the yellow side.
Sorkin (photo: official website, Elad Goldstein, Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Celebrations with flags and the singing of the national anthem.
Ziv and Manko (photo: official website, Elad Goldstein, Maccabi Tel Aviv)
"Home atmosphere".
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Monaco (photo: official website, Elad Goldstein, Maccabi Tel Aviv)
"You have to give Monaco credit defensively, they make it very difficult to attack them," continued the winning coach, "It's an exciting victory, especially because of Independence Day, I hope we made a lot of people happy. There's another game on Thursday that's going to be no less difficult."
With the pressure now completely on the French representative, Maccabi Tel Aviv will want to get another away win on Thursday so that one victory at the hands of Eliyahu next week will secure a ticket to the Final Four in Kovna, the club's first since winning in 2014.
"Yad Eliyahu is always talked about, there was a completely home atmosphere here," Ketch praised, "our fans won long before the game started, but we felt them. In moments when it was difficult, they gave the players a boost."
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Maccabi Tel Aviv in basketball
Oded Ketch
