By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With 29 seconds remaining in Game 5 of the EuroLeague playoffs between Anadolu Efes and Barcelona, Vasilije Micic sent the ball to Adrien Moerman. The latter drained the 3-pointer to put Efes up 78 – 71.
Moerman scored his 18th point in the match and more or less called game since in the next play, Barcelona committed a turnover in the inbounds pass. The Blaugrana wouldn’t repeat their Game 2 win.
Efes defeated Barcelona 80 – 71 to win the series 3-2 and become the last team to advance to the EuroLeague Final Four for the first time since 2000. The team will face fellow Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce Beko in the semifinal.
After scoring 30 points in the crucial Game 3 road win and 20 in Game 4, Shane Larkin finished this match 18 points and seven assists. His backcourt mate Micic added 10 points and 10 assists for Efes that was blazing from beyond the arc.
Efes finished the match with 17/39 triples, setting a new playoffs record for most 3-pointers made. Barca didn’t match up this firepower for the bulk of the game. Coach Svetislav Pesic’s players began with 28 points in the first quarter but their offensive prowess plummetted afterward.
In the meantime, Efes caught up and more. Thanks to a powerful 24 – 14 second period, the hosts took a 47 – 42 halftime lead and remained ahead for the remainder of the match.
Chris Singleton finished with 12 points and seven rebounds while Adam Hanga had 12 points and four boards for Barca. Ante Tomic scored 10 points in 15:57.