Break in Game 5? Never before!

By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net

The big target is obvious. Olympiacos wants to defend his title in Milan and Panathinaikos wants to return to the Final Four and conquer his seventh Euroleague trophy. But the Greeks have the chance to make history by breaking the so far bulletproof tradition.

No team in the past, having the home disadvantage, could qualify by winning Game 5. During the last five seasons plus the first Euroleague year (2000-01) there are six series that were decided in the fifth game and in all of them the hosts always prevailed.

Tau didn’t make it in the first best-of-five finals against Kinder and eight years later against Barcelona in the quarterfinals. Also, Valencia three years ago against Real, Maccabi two years ago against Panathianikos and Panathinaikos last year against Barcelona made the break in the second game, lost one at home and then lost the ticket to the Final Four at Madrid, Athens and Barcelona respectively.

Last season it was the first time that a team which was trailing 0-2, answered with two wins, but also didn’t make it in the fifth game. Olympiacos won the first two games, Efes tied the series in Istanbul (2-2) and the Reds defended their home court advantage.

So, will Panathinaikos and Olympiacos break CSKA’s and Real’s home “breaking” also the tradition? The answers on Friday night! Stay tuned!

Series decided in Game 5