Since February 15, 1996, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv have not beaten Panathinaikos in Yad Eliyahu. This time, more than ever, Maccabi needed a win over the European champions to establish their place in the top five in Group B.

Before the start of the game the spectators welcomed ex player Arriel McDonald with songs & cheers when he received a special trophy from club president Shimon Mizrahi.

Maccabi were 4-9 down but a 10-2 run gave them a 14-11 lead. But Alvertis & co ended the first quarter 23-20 up. At the half the Greeks led 46-34. In the third Panathinaikos opened a 17 pts lead (71-54). Then coach David Blatt sent in his “warriors”, led by Derrick Sharp. With just over two minutes to go the gap was only five points 82-77. But Panathinaikos held on and for a 86-79 win, its third in a row in Yad Eliyahu.

Mirsad Turkcan was named Euroleague MVP of the week. He had 18 pts, 21 rbds, 3 ass, 3 stls & 3 blsts in his team Montepaschi Siena 77-62 win over TAU Vitoria. Zalgiris Kaunas beat Unicaja Malaga 87-67 & Olimpija Ljubljana won 100-81 in Podgorica over Buducnost.