Maccabi grabs fifth place with win over Olimpija

U18 Maccabi Tel Aviv survived a hard-fought battle and defeated U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 79-75 to take fifth place at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade. Ido Menchel collected 23 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists while Ido Iluz hit 5 three-pointers in scoring 19 points in the win. Yuval Levin chipped in 13 points, 6 rebounds and 7 steals and Oz Rozenzwaig added 10 points. Andrija Jelavic poured in 22 points for Olimpija, which also had Andre Skelin tally 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jakov Jacovic scored 14 points and Vice Zanki had 13 points in the loss.

Olimpija started the game well with Jelavic and Jacovic both hitting three-pointers in building a 5-14 lead. Menchel connected from deep and Iluz had two triples to get Maccabi within 19-20. And the score was 23-24 after 10 minutes. Maccabi had the first five points of the second quarter to move ahead 28-24. A 7-0 spurt had the Israeli powerhouse up 37-32 before Duje Damjanic and Zanki both drained triples and Olimpija led 39-42. The teams went into the locker rooms even 42-42.

Olimpija got three-pointers from Skelin, Zanki and Jacovic in building a 46-53 lead early in the third quarter. Maccabi punched back with the next nine points to reclaim the lead and it was up 59-57 after 30 minutes. The fourth quarter was close and the lead went back and forth with Damjanic making it 75-74 with 92 seconds left. Menchel answered at the other end but then Skelin and Damjanic both missed two free throws followed by two Menchel free throws with 13 seconds remaining to make it 78-75. Olimpija turned the ball over on the ensuing in-bounds pass and Menchel split two foul shots with 9 seconds to ice the game.