Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv has taken a firm grip on the top of Group B of the Euroleague Regular season with a perfect 5-0 record. Thjs after wunnung the third road game. 91-87 in Lithuania vs Zalgiris Kaunas.
Maccabi led 16-15 at the end of the first qurter and increased it to 25-19 at the start of the second. But Zalgiris went on a 7-0 run. Maccabi ked 33-32 but then the hosts scored 15 pts to Maccabi 6 and at the ghalf Zalgiris led 47-39.
They also dominated the third period and opened a 12 pts gap (65-53). But two three pointers by Sharp and some great play by Baston & Vujcic, enabled Maccabi to close the gap to 71-65 at the end of the period. Maccabi continued to press and took a 74-73 lead. For the next few minutes the lead changed over several times until a three pointer by Saras, in his city of birth, and another two from Thomas, made it 87-83 with 1.51 min left. Sharp scored the final points from the free throws line (Maccabi made 22 from 26 from the line).
Arvydas Sabonis proved that even at 39 he is still a tremendous player with 18 pts, 17 rbds, 4 assists & 2 blocked shots. Sarunas Jasikevicius, in front of his family, scored 16 pts and dished 4 assists for Maccabi. The TV viewrs in Israel voted Maceo Baston as MVP with 17 pts, 14 rbds, 2 steals, 1 BS & 1 assist.