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Maccabi enjoy Suproleague dominance
Maccabi Tel Aviv ended a 20 year wait for a return to the pinnacle for European basketball on Sunday, the Israeli side crowning themselves as FIBA Suproleague champions with a 81-67 rout of reigning kings Panathanaikos at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France.
The final was a repeat of 2000's showdown but this time, it was the Israelis turn to ccome out on top, a MVP showing from Arriel McDonald leading them to victory.
Tel-Aviv started slowly as Panathanaikos foward Antonis Fotsis fired the holders into an early lead. The Atheneans seemed confident, displaying a great passing game but wer let down by a litany of errors from Rebraca.
However cometh the hour, cometh McDonald. With Nate Huffman shut down by a Pana's rearguard, Maccabi’s point guard poured in 15 points to feast upon every Greek mistake. Maccabi’s lead jumped to 15 points at the half, profiting from two consecutive turnovers from Panathinaikos’s guards and a technical foul on coach Obradovic.
Dejan Bodiroga was not to be beaten without a struggle and assisted by shooting of Michael Koch - the Yugoslav swingman heading towards a game-best 27 points tally - the Greeks pinned their opponents back to within six points at the close of the third period.
However the Tel Aviv outfit stepped up in crunch time and pulled away, as McDonald piled in towards his 21 points and nine rebounds total. Anthony Parker caught the eye of the already celebrating Maccabi fans with fans with a couple of eye-catching dunks but the title was already in his team's grasp.
Suproleague Final 13th May, 2001
Maccabi Tel Aviv - Panathinaikos 81-67 (Huffmann 21, McDonald 21, Parker 13, Henefeld 7, Burstein 5, others: Sharp 5, Curcic 4, Brisker 3, Shelef 2 - Bodiroga 27, Fotsis 15, Alvertis 5, Rebraca 4, Kalaitzis 0, others: Koch 9, Gentile 3, Burke 2, Rogers 2, Middleton)
Ariel McDonald from Maccabi Tel Aviv has been elected MVP of the FIBA SuproLeague Final Four.3rd Place Game:
Efes Pilsen – CSKA 91-85 (Drobnjak 25, Scepanovic 18, Mulaomerovic 15 (12 assists), Besok 12, Onan 9, Okur 7, Peker 3, Tunceri 2 - Morgunov 16, Kirilenko 16, Einikis 14, Koudeline 13, Alanovic 9, La Rue 8, Domani 4, Padius 3, Fetissov 2)Semi-Finals 11th May, 2001
Panathinaikos Athens - Efes Pilsen Istanbul 74-66 (Bodiroga 22, Fotsis 11, Alvertis 10, Koch 10, Middleton 6, Kalaitzis 6, Rebraca 5, Rogers 2, Balogannis - Mulaomerovic 20, Onan 15, Drobnjak 15, Besok 10, Tunceri 4, Okur 2, Bibo)Maccabi Tel Aviv - CSKA Moscow 86-80 (McDonald 17, Huffmann 17, Henefeld 14, Parker 14, Sharp 7, Brisker, Curcic 2, Burstein - Kirilenko 23, Morgunov 15, Einikis 11, Domani 9, Fetissov 9, Petrenko 6, La Rue 5, Padius 2, Alqnovic, Koudeline)
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