EUROLEAGUE - Eidson, Maccabi thrash Madrid to set up showdown with Pana
BARCELONA (Euroleague) - Maccabi Tel Aviv rolled to victory over Real Madrid on Friday night to set up another European title showdown with Panathinaikos. Roared on by their yellow-clad supporters in the Palau Sant Jordi, David Blatt's side cruised in the second half and won 82-63. Maccabi reached the championship game for the first time since 2005 ...
BARCELONA (Euroleague) - Maccabi Tel Aviv rolled to victory over Real Madrid on Friday night to set up another European title showdown with Panathinaikos.
Roared on by their yellow-clad supporters in the Palau Sant Jordi, David Blatt's side cruised in the second half and won 82-63.
Maccabi reached the championship game for the first time since 2005 when they beat Caja Laboral (former Tau Ceramica) in Moscow to lift the trophy.
The Israelis won the title the year before, whipping Fortitudo Bologna in the championship game when they hosted the Final Four in Tel Aviv.
Leading only 32-29 at half-time on Friday in Barcelona, Maccabi opened a 53-43 lead with a minute to go in the third quarter after three-point play by Chuck Eidson (pictured).
Madrid had been battling but the play sucked the life out of them.
D'or Fischer attempted to inbound the ball after a made free-throw by Eidson.
Eidson, who scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the quarter, easily intercepted the pass, went up and made a lay-up while also being fouled by Fischer.
He sank the free-throw for the 10-point lead.
Madrid did cut their deficit to 55-47 at the end of frame but Maccabi then lowered the boom.
Blatt's team went on an 11-2 run in the first five minutes of the quarter with Eidson, Jeremy Pargo and David Blu all nailing shots from long range.
With Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and former coach Ettore Messina looking on, Maccabi stormed to a convincing victory.
The Israelis finished 12 of 23 from long range, with Eidson three of four and Guy Pnini four of six.
Now Maccabi and Panathinaikos will square off again with a major title at stake.
In 2000, Panathinaikos beat Maccabi 73-67 in Thessaloniki, Greece, to win the FIBA EuroLeague.
The following year, in the FIBA SuproLeague, Maccabi took revenge by beating Panathinaikos in Paris, 81-67.
Blatt was an assistant coach to Pini Gershon for that game.
Ante Tomic finished with 17 points for Madrid.
FIBA