Maccabi secured a 32:25 victory over Conversano in the European Cup on Wednesday evening, coming off a 34:34 draw between the sides just twenty-four hours earlier. By then the Israeli outfit had found a way to close out the game, things came to a head in the closing minutes when Conversano could not answer the pressure.
The hosts went up through their shooting, and here's the thing — they did not need to dominate possession to get the result. Conversano had their moments, particularly in the opening quarter, but Maccabi's execution in transition proved the difference. The visitors had nothing to do all evening once the pace set, and the gap opened wider with each passage of play.
Conversano came in with some momentum from their 33:31 win over Cologne in April, but that form has not carried through to this competition. They dropped points against Bolzano on Tuesday, 25:32, and the confidence was not there when Maccabi started pressing. To be fair, they had held Sassari to a draw in April, but this was a different standard entirely.
Maccabi's recent run has been solid — three draws in their last five, including the stalemate with their opponents yesterday. That consistency meant they did not panic when Conversano pushed back in the second half. The old head settled them down when the game threatened to drift, and they ground out the win when it mattered.
The result leaves Maccabi in a strong position in the group standings, while Conversano's European campaign looks increasingly difficult. They did not travel to make up the numbers, but the performance suggested otherwise. A straight knockout would not surprise anyone who watched how the game unfolded.
