A fourth win on the road for Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv in the Euroleague, 89-85 in Italy vs Montepaschi Siena. This was the third win for Maccabi over the team that played last season in the Final Four of the Euroleague.
Maccabi held a 80-68 lead with less than three minutes to go brfore a 14-3 run by Montepaschi made it 83-82. It looked like last week’s drama in Rel Aviv when Maccabi succumbed to CSKA in the final minute.
But a huge three pointer by Anthony Parker and a bonus point made it 87-82 with 21 seconds to go on the way to a great win.
Maccabi started well and took a 8-0 lead. But 5 three pointers by Stefanov & Vanterpool. Made it only 21-20 at the end of the forst quarter. Siena took a 38-33 lead in the second but Parker scored three 3 pointers and Maccabi went to the break leading 42-41.
Maccabi opened the second half with a 10-0 run but once again the home team came back to 57-56 with Parker already with 4 fouls. Deon Thomas took over and made sure that Maccabi finished the third period with a 64-58 lead. Maccabi lost Thomas (fouled out) but Parker & Vujcic made it 80-68 before the drama of the final minutes.
Parker was by far the top player with 30 pts in 90% FG & 89% Ftand 10 rbds. Nikola Vujcic, who was elected MVP by the TV viewers, had 21 pts in 69% FG & 10 rbds. Thomas scored 15 pts in 71% FG & 100% FT.