Basketball / Sprinklers fail to dampen Mac. Haifa's promotion party
By Haaretz Sports Staff
After an absence of 10 years, Maccabi Haifa delighted its fans last night by securing promotion to the Premier League with a 73-69 victory over Elitzur Netanya at a packed Romema Arena.
After the game, 3,500 fans spilled onto the court, sprayed the players with champagne and celebrated by cutting the nets and lighting a torch on the parquet.
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The festivities were only halted when the arena's fire extinguishing system was activated, dampening the fans - but not their spirits.
Haifa's owner, billionaire American Jeff Rosen, said: "This is a wonderful day for the entire city of Haifa. This is how I envisioned the team when I bought it."
In the Premier League, meanwhile, Hapoel Jerusalem kept its slender Final Four hopes alive yesterday with a dramatic 93-89 overtime win over Ironi Nahariya.
To advance to the end-of-season extravaganza, Hapoel needs a win in its final round match-up at Galil Elyon, and must also pray that Nahariya loses at home to Ironi Ramat Gan and that Hapoel Holon beats Ashkelon.
After a tense regular-time game, Hapoel strode confidently into overtime, as Sharon Sasson's three-pointer gave it an 86-82 advantage. Nahariya closed the gap to one point, but Otis Hill missed two free throws and with them, the opportunity to give his team the lead. With 10 seconds left, Sasson's three-pointer gave Hapoel a 92-89 lead and secured its victory.
In other games, Hapoel Holon regained top spot after beating Galil Elyon in 93-84 overtime, and Bnei Hasharon got the better of Ironi Ashkelon (84-76).
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