Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv proved this evening in Moscow that it is the top basketball team in Europe. The 90-78 win over Tau Vitoria, brought the European Cup to Tel Aviv for the fifth time and the third in the last five years. It was also the first time since 1991 that a team won the Cup back-to-back.
For coach Pini Gershon it was a double celebration winning the Cup for the third time. Sarunas Jasikevicios, voted MVP for the night, won the Cup for a third year running.
Maccabi won in spite of poor shooting night for the Euroleague MVP Anthony Parker who made only 3 FG from 12 attempts and had 5 turnovers. But Saras took control, scored 22 points in 58% from the field, pulled down 6 rebounds and dished out 5 assists.
A huge game for Nestoras Kommatos with 13 points, 3 rebounds and a great defensive display. Baston and Vujcic were effective as usual in the paint and Nikola had also made 7 assists.
After a 26-15 lead at the end of the first quarter and 50-39 at the half time, Maccabi got stuck in the third and Tau came back to a 60-62, but a three pointer by Saras enabeld Maccabi to close the period 65-62.
Parker started the final period on the bench but came back with Maccabi leading 74-66 and helped his team secure the victory which started the celebrations on and off the court with the participation of State President President Moshe Katzav.
Panathinaikos Athens won third place beating CSKA Moscow 94-91 after two overtimes.