Maccabi's Terence Morris
צילום: רויטרס
Maccabi Tel Aviv reaches Euroleague final
Israeli team fights back against Montepaschi Siena, books a place in Sunday's final with a 92-85 win
Maccabi Tel Aviv needed to show all their big-match experience to come from behind and book a place in the Euroleague final with a 92-85 win over outsiders Montepaschi Siena on Friday.
Alex Garcia and Derrick Sharp led the fightback with 19 and 17 points respectively to set up a meeting with favorites CSKA Moscow, who beat local side Tau Ceramica in the second semi-final later on Friday.
Siena, who has just walked away with the Italian regular season title, raced to an 8-0 lead before Maccabi got off the mark at the Final Four in Madrid, and their rock-solid defense kept their more illustrious rivals at bay.
Maccabi players celebrate (Photo: AFP)
They led 20-8 going into the second period and threatened to run riot after building a 16-point margin at the 17 minute mark, with Terrell McIntyre marshalling their attack. The guard finished with a game high 26 points.
But Maccabi battled back in the third, and guard Garcia fired in from outside the arc to send them into the final quarter just three behind at 64-61.
The Maccabi fans found their voices and David Bluthenthal and then Will Bynum put them in front for the first time with back-to-back three-point shots.
Montepaschi, who had lost all eight of their previous encounters with the 2004 and 2005 winners, drew level at 78-78 with two minutes to go but it was to no avail.
The final and the third-place playoff take place in Madrid's Palacio de Deportes on Sunday.
