A heroic, unprecedented season came to a crushing end on Tuesday, as Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv bowed out of the EuroLeague with a Game 5 loss in Athens. Panathinaikos edged the yellows 81-72 in a harf-fought battle in OAKA and claimed a ticket to the Final Four with a 3-2 series win.
Much like the rest of the series, it was a back-and-forth affair which Maccabi led for long portions of the game. But playing once again without their top scorer, Wade Baldwin IV, the Israeli champs lacked firepower down the stretch. And it didn't help that Maccabi sent PAO's players to the line 35 times while shooting just 8 free throws themselves.
Lorenzo Brown did his best to give Maccabi a chance, scoring 19 points and delivering 7 assists, but it proved not enough. Josh Nebo contributed 14 points, but no other yellow player reached double figures.
With the loss, Maccabi will now set their sights to the two remaining goals this season: reclaiming the Israel cup and repeating an Israeli championship. It starts on Friday, when Oded Kattash and his men will face Kiryat Ata at home for the cup semi-finals.