Hapoel tied the series against Rilski at 1-1 after a home win

BC Hapoel Tel Aviv (kobiko photography)

BC Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated BC Rilski Sportist in the second game from the “best of three” quarterfinal play-off series – 84:63 and tied the score at 1-1. The winner of the series will be decided on Thursday, March 29^th in a decisive third game.

Hapoel got off to a great start, after Curtis Kelly scored four consecutive points early in the first, giving his team a 4:0 lead. Rilski took the difference down to two points – 6:4, before Hapoel’s offensive game caught fire. Cory Carr scored for 8:4, as this basket was the start of a 17-0 run for the home side, which would put them ahead by 23:4 with 2.23 to go, when Rosen Barchovski took a time-out. The home team extended their run to 22:0, before Rilski made a basket for 28:6 with around one minute left in the quarter. After 10 minutes of basketball Hapoel Tel Aviv held a commanding 30:6 lead.

The home side continued to dominate after the start of the second period, as three minutes into the quarter they had already extended their lead to 27 points – 38:11 with 6.55 left on the clock. Hristo Zahariev and Filip Vukosavljevic scored for 38:15, but Aviram Zelkovits and Bar Timor made it 42:15 with a little more than five minutes to go. Filip Vukosavljevic mada free-throw for 42:16, but Hapoel’s answer were seven straight points, giving them a 33-point lead – 49:16 with four minutes left. Hapoel slowed down a bit in the next minutes, allowing 9 points in their basket against 4 of their own, still leading – 53:25 with 2.04 to go.Branko Mirkovic made a three for 53:28, but Matan Naor responded for 55:28. Halfway through the game Hapoel were ahead by 28 points – 56:28.

Hapoel extended their lead to 30 points early in the third period – 58:28, but Filip Vukosavljevic was having good minutes and after five points by him and a a basket by Vaklinov, the difference was reduced to 25 – 60:35. Rilski started finding the right rhytm, and reduced the difference to 23 points – 66:43 with 3.07 remaining in the third after good plays by Asen Velikov and Hristo Zahariev.. Asen Velikov made two free-throws for 66:45. Hapoel scored six more points until the end, and after 30 minutes they remained ahead of Rilski Sportist – 71:45.

Rilski Sportist started the fourth quarter with a 6-2 run, decreasing the deficit down to 22 points – 73:51, after a three by Martin Marinov with 6.53 to go. Riletso continued to erase the margin, bringing it down to 19 – 75:56, before Cory Carr and Yonathan Skjoldebrand made it 79:56 with 3.43 left to play. Hapoel managed to break ahead by more than 20 points once again – 84:60 a minute and a half before the end, as after that the final score was settled at 84:63.

Five Hapoel players scored in double digits in the win, led by Demontez Stitt who had 14 points and 8 rebounds. Cory Carr added 13 points and 11 rebounds, Yonathan Skjoldebrand and Matan Naor had 12 points each, while Curtis Kelly also added a double-double – 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Hristo Zahariev and Filip Vukosavljevic scored 16 points each for Rilski Sportist, while Martin Marinov added 12, coming off the bench.

The third decisive game will be played on Thursday, March 29^th once again in Hadar Yosef in Tel Aviv.

21-04-2024 | 19:05

Happy Passover!

20-04-2024 | 13:34

Final words for Season 2023/24 from Sports Director Shay Shtriks

20-04-2024 | 13:26

Mr. Lubomir Kotleba once again honored the Delasport Balkan League Final 4

20-04-2024 | 12:43

Best Moments of 2023/24 Final 4 in Delasport Balkan League

18-04-2024 | 16:50

President of the Cyprus Basketball Federation: PAYBL AEL Limassol participation in Delasport Balkan League shows goal and vision

17-04-2024 | 20:09

Coach Kalia Papadopoulou: Prishtina players' experience decided the final

16-04-2024 | 13:52

Coach Albert Sylejmani: We are excited and proud of the results we have achieved!

16-04-2024 | 10:48

A big thank you from Mr. Shtriks

15-04-2024 | 10:41

Photo gallery from KB Sigal Prishtina - PAYABL EKA AEL

15-04-2024 | 10:32

Photo gallery from Peja – KK Lovcen 1947

14-04-2024 | 22:58

Third final - third title for Sigal Prishtina after a great championship game in Limassol

14-04-2024 | 20:46

Peja with the bronze in Delasport Balkan League

14-04-2024 | 11:50

Watch the match for the 3/4th place and the final from Delasport Balkan League live on Youtube

14-04-2024 | 11:05

Beinish, Jokic and Kuburovic to officiate the big final

13-04-2024 | 11:54

Michalis Mithillos: I feel blessed to be a part of this team

13-04-2024 | 11:49

Kalia Papadopoulou: We had a lot of pressure before the game

13-04-2024 | 00:40

Photo gallery from PAYBL EKA AEL - KB Peja

13-04-2024 | 00:34

Photo gallery from KB Sigal Prishtina vs KK Lovcen 1947

12-04-2024 | 23:02

Limassol crowd ignites PAYBL EKA AEL into the big final

12-04-2024 | 20:38

Third final appearance for Sigal Prishtina after a convincing win against KK Lovcen

12-04-2024 | 07:31

Final 4 pressconference statements

11-04-2024 | 16:31

Delasport Balkan League Final 4 to be broadcasted in four countries

09-04-2024 | 11:36

All set for the Final 4

09-04-2024 | 10:09

Darrel Davies and Adong Makuoi share thoughts on Delasport Balkan League

08-04-2024 | 10:51

Officiating crew announced for Final 4

05-04-2024 | 23:39

Amazing regular season finale in Prishtine

05-04-2024 | 00:06

Final showdown: Big day for Kosovo teams in Delasport Balkan League

26-03-2024 | 14:09

PAYABL AEL Limassol president: It is a great honor but also a significant responsibility to organize the F4 in Limassol

26-03-2024 | 09:36

Final 4 2024 to be hosted by PAYBL AEL Limassol

26-03-2024 | 00:45

Tyrn Flowers: We played really hard