EUROLEAGUE – Barcelona battle back to eliminate defending champions Panathinaikos

ATHENS (Euroleague) - Regal Barcelona came back from an 11-point deficit and defeated Panathinaikos on Thursday to end the Greens’ Euroleague title defense.

Fresh off their Copa del Rey triumph at the weekend, the Spanish giants travelled to Athens and trailed 55-44 at the end of the third quarter but won 70-67 after outscoring the hosts 26-12 over the final 10 minutes.

Erazem Lorbek of Slovenia, a member of the all-tournament team at last year's EuroBasket in Poland and a player to watch at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey later this year, was Barca's best player.

He saw more than 37 minutes of action and finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocks as Barcelona improved to 3-1 in Group E.

Spain international Juan Carlos Navarro poured in 15 points while Barcelona captain Roger Grimau contributed nine - all on shots from long range.

The setback has left Panathinaikos reeling.

Zeljko Obradovic's team lost to Olympiacos last weekend in the Greek Cup Final and now they are 0-4 in the Top 16.

The Panathinaikos fans are stunned with the club's early exit from the competition, and even Barcelona's players are surprised.

"If somebody were to come before the start of the Top 16 to tell me that Panathinaikos could go 0-4 after four games, I would have said they were crazy," Barca's Terence Morris said.

Also in Group E, Partizan Belgrade improved to 3-1 by defeating Maroussi BC (2-2) 79-76 at the Pionir.

There were crucial wins, too, for Spanish outfits Real Madrid, the side Barcelona thrashed in the Copa del Rey Final, and Caja Laboral.

Recent acquisition Ante Tomic of Croatia had 12 points and nine rebounds and Spain's Sergio Llull drilled four of six shots from long range on his way to 17 points as Real prevailed 77-69 in Group E over last weekend's Coppa Italia winners, Montepaschi Siena.

"I hope this is the beginning of something bigger," said Tomic, who joined Madrid last month from long-time club KK Zagreb.

"I will keep working to help my team to win difficult games like this was. We have to go step by step if we want to make it to the Final Four."

Ettore Messina's team out-rebounded Montepaschi 37-25.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, Madrid, Efes Pilsen and Montepaschi are each 2-2 in Group F.

In Group H, Caja Laboral (2-2) overcame the absence of Brazil center Tiago Splitter and won 94-83 at BC Khimki (2-2), the side coached by Spain's national team boss Sergio Scariolo.

Mirza Teletovic was five of seven from behind the arc and scored 25 points for Caja Laboral.

The Basque outfit won despite being out-rebounded 34-18.

In the other game of the night, Zalgiris Kaunas won 89-84 at home against Unicaja Malaga - the only Spanish side to fall on the night.

Both teams are 1-3 in Group G.

FIBA