By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was the night of the road warriors and of an upset. Crvena Zvezda beat the defending champs, Maccabi Tel Aviv, while CSKA and Barcelona, after two big battles against Laboral Kutxa and Panathinaikos, prevailed in the end.
In Vitoria, Laboral Kutxa behind 31 points by Darius Adams (11/18 FG) stayed in the game until the last minute, but CSKA Moscow got the 81-74 win with Sonny Weems and Nando De Colo (11 p.) making crucial baskets. The quality of the guests and their focus in the closing minutes made a difference. The hosts tried their best against a top level opponent, but couldn’t finish the game the right way.
Thanks to a 24-9 run in the first six minutes of the last quarter, Crvena Zvezda got a ten points lead over defending champions Maccabi Tel Aviv (78-68) and eventually the 89-76 win. The hosts had a small advantage at the first half, Maccabi came back in the third, but the last period was all about the Serbs. Marcus Williams with 17 points, 5/8 threes, 7 rebounds and 5 assists was the key for the winners, while Boban Marjanovic had once more an impressive double double (19 p., 17 r.).
In Athens, after a good start from the hosts, Barcelona got the lead in the half time by ten (42-32), however with 1,5 minute left, Panathinaikos made it a two points game (75-73). Still in the remaining time, Barca didn’t lose the lead and the Catalans got a key win (81-77), which puts them back in the race for the home court advantage in the play offs. With four seconds left, Diamantidis made a big three (79-77) but Satorasky sealed the deal with two free throws. Justin Doellman with 21 points was the best of the game and Juan Carlos Navarro added 17 points.