EA7 Milano Falls to Hapoel Tel Aviv 92-86, Playoff Dreams Fade in EuroLeague
Hapoel imposes will against Milan with statement performance
Despite 22 points from Zach LeDay, Milano faded in the fourth against Maccabi, suffering a setback just four days after its Final Eight win.
Elijah Bryant proved decisive for Hapoel Tel Aviv with 25 points, building on his performance as the driving force in the first leg victory. The American guard was supported by Micic and Onuru throughout the contest, creating a formidable offensive trio that ultimately overwhelmed Milano’s defense.
Early Promise Gives Way to Fourth Quarter Collapse
The visiting team started promisingly with a 4-0 run thanks to a LeDay-Bolmaro partnership, with the American center-forward hitting a corner 3-pointer to make it 5-9. However, Milano quickly found themselves in trouble as Hapoel responded with inspired play from Bryant, Micic, and Onuru, closing the gap to just one point at 10-11.
The momentum shifted decisively to the Israelis as Wainright threatened with his dribble-and-shoot ability. Milano’s offense struggled to find rhythm while their defense couldn’t contain the opposition’s efforts. Oturu and Bryant pushed Hapoel’s lead past double digits at 24-13, forcing coach Poeta to search for solutions.
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Despite brief signs of life from Guduric and a steal by Bolmaro, Milano couldn’t balance their defensive struggles. Motley extended the lead to 29-17 to close the first quarter, setting the tone for a difficult evening.
Final Quarter Proves Decisive
The second quarter saw Milano mount a comeback attempt with a 10-0 partial run capped by Armoni Brooks‘ second 3-pointer of the evening, cutting the deficit significantly. The Italian team gained confidence through contributions from Shields, LeDay, and Quinn, with the latter converting a three-point play to make it 46-44 in the 19th minute.
After halftime, Nebo kept Milano competitive as they battled back to trail 51-54 in the 23rd minute through a LeDay counterattack. The match remained wide open with both teams trading blows before Blakeney and Odiase attempted to break away again at 71-61 in the 28th minute.
In the crucial final period, EA7 was forced to chase the game. LeDay remained effective from long range, and along with Bolmaro, provided Milano’s last real attempt to get back into the contest at 81-74 in the 35th minute. However, Bryant closed out the game with five consecutive points alongside Blakeney, effectively managing Hapoel’s victory despite last-gasp efforts from Nebo and Brooks.
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