ESP - McDonald fires Akasvayu to EuroCup title

GIRONA (EuroCup Final Four) - Akasvayu Girona held off a determined Azovmash 79-72 on Sunday to capture the EuroCup in front of their own fans in the Fontajau.

Ariel McDonald, the veteran American who had 21 points in the decisive semi-final win over Estudiantes on Friday, made five of seven shots from three-point range and finished with a game-high 25 points to lead Akasvayu.

He was named the Final Four MVP.

Azovmash, the Ukrainian champions of 2006 who reached the title showdown after a last-second 74-73 triumph over Virtus Bologna on Friday, showed incredible fight but watched Girona do just enough to win at the end.

Svetislav Pesic, the Girona coach, has written another chapter in his legendary career.

The Serbian led Germany to the EuroBasket 1993 gold medal, and steered Yugoslavia to the same crown eight years later.

In 2002, he led the Yugoslavians to gold at the FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis, and the next season fired Barcelona to a Euroleague, ACB and Copa del Rey treble.

"No one believed me when I said ahead of this game that it was going to be a very difficult game," Pesic said.

"Azovmash played great basketball, but we played very well in the last minutes and we never lost confidence."

Azovmash never gave up the fight.

Girona reeled off nine straight points - capped by a reverse dunk in traffic by Lithuanian international Dainius Salenga - to lead 54-41 midway through the third quarter, forcing Azovmash boss Rimas Girskis to call a timeout.

A Panagiotis Liadellis lay-up then sparked a 12-1 surge for the Mariupol side who trailed 55-53 with 1:44 to go in the third quarter.

The game remained close, with a Robert Gulyas three-ball tying the contest at 67-67 with just under five minutes remaining in the contest.

McDonald then broke the visitors' backs, splitting a pair of free throws for a one-point advantage and then, after a charge by Kenan Bajramovic, burying his fifth three-pointer with 3:23 remaining.

Marc Gasol sank two free throws and added a lay-up on a strong inside move to put the game out of reach for Azovmash.

For McDonald, who led Maccabi Tel Aviv to the SuproLeague title in Paris several years ago, Sunday's triumph was one of his greatest achievements.

"Right now, this is just a very special moment," he said to PA Sport immediately after the game while holding his two-year-old son Bailey.

"I'm feeling very humble. We've been playing all year long for this moment, we've been struggling in the ACB league, and we were a little worried about these games, but we found a way to win so I am very happy."

Then, looking at Bailey, he added: "It's a very special moment for me because every guy who's a basketball player dreams of a moment when he can play well at the right time in the big game and his son gets to watch. So that's why I've got him in my arms, to take in the whole moment."

Khalid El-Amin led a balanced scoring attack for Azovmash with 16 points.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA