EUROLEAGUE – Maccabi advance after fourth-quarter rampage

TEL AVIV (Euroleague) - Pini Gershon and Maccabi Tel Aviv won the FIBA Suproleague title nine years ago in Paris.
 
A return to the City of Light for the Euroleague Final Four could be on the cards for the Israeli giants because on Thursday night, they pulled away from Montepaschi Siena (2-3) in the last quarter for a 97-82 triumph to seal a spot in the Quarter-Final Round.

Gershon's team trailed 57-54 at the end of the third frame but poured in 43 points over the final 10 minutes, setting a new Euroleague record for most points scored in a single quarter.
 
Alan Anderson, the Euroleague Player of the Month for February, finished with 24 points for Maccabi with five of his teammates also in double-figures.
 
The win improved Maccabi to 3-2, the same record of Real Madrid who scraped a 77-75 victory at Efes Pilsen (2-3).
 
Madrid's success also clinched a spot for them in the Quarter-Final Round.
 
Next week's game between Maccabi and Madrid in the Spanish capital will decide first place in Group F.
 
"With the win there, we're going to be set with the home-court advantage so we want it very, very much," Anderson said.
 
In Madrid's victory, Spain international Jorge Garbajosa hit all four of his three-pointers and finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
 
In Group E, already eliminated Panathinaikos (1-4) did their Athens neighbors Maroussi a favor by winning 82-66 at Partizan Belgrade (3-2).
 
If Partizan fall at Real Barcelona next week and Maroussi beat Panathinaikos, Maroussi will advance to Quarter-Final Round.
 
If both sides lose, Partizan will progress.
 
Drew Nicholas had 22 points for Panathinaikos.
 
Thursday's other game saw Olympiacos (5-0) claim a 102-85 Group H victory over visiting Caja Laboral (2-3).
 
Josh Childress led the Reds with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
 
FIBA