EUROLEAGUE - Maccabi Tel Aviv win late and now face rampant Real in final

MILAN (Euroleague) - Viktor Khryapa has made many a great play in his famous career to help Russia's national team and CSKA Moscow win games.

On Friday, though, he committed a late blunder that opened the door for Maccabi Tel Aviv to stun CSKA, 68-67, and reach the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final in Milan.

Real Madrid, getting 21 points from their Spain international and Euroleague MVP Sergio Rodriguez, blew out Barcelona, 100-62, in the second semifinal to set up a title tilt with Maccabi.

Maccabi's win was about as dramatic as they come.

They trailed by 15 at the end of the third quarter but never gave up.

After a David Blu three-ball cut CSKA's advantage to 67-66 with 13 seconds to play, the coach of the Russian team, Ettore Messina, called a timeout.

When play resumed, Khryapa fumbled away what appeared to be a straightforward pass from Vladimir Micov.

The ball wound up in the hands of Blu, who passed ahead to Tyrese Rice and the Montenegro international soared in for the go-ahead lay-up.

Sonny Weems missed a potential game-winning jump shot at the death as CSKA fell to defeat.

David Blatt, the Maccabi boss who once coached Khryapa in Russia's national team, said: "When we stole the ball (on the inbounds play with 13.5 seconds left), my eyes went black. I didn't see anything.

"I don't remember the play that Tyrese Rice made. All I said was, wow, we're going to win the game."

Rice said: "This is what you play basketball for, to be in these situations, with game-winning shots to go to the championship game. You can't write a script any better than that."

Blu led Maccabi with 15 points and Rice contributed 13.

Real, who had edged Barcelona in the Copa del Rey Final back in February, started slow on Friday but rolled to a decisive win in the second half.

They ended up shooting 23 of 38 inside the arc, and 14 of 29 beyond it.

"Everything went very well," said Rodriguez, who will be among the Spain stars at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

"We were very focused and intense. We played one of those great games we have already played during this season.

"It's unbelievable to win a Final Four game like that, against such a great team like Barcelona. But now we have to keep in mind that there is still a big game to play against Maccabi."

As for Barcelona, the heavy loss was difficult to comprehend.

Their iconic guard and Spain star Juan Carlos Navarro, had only three points in just under 19 minutes of action.

Croatia international Ante Tomic, who will also be at the World Cup with his national team, said: "We started the game well, and despite playing a bad second quarter we were only down eight at halftime.

"I thought at that point that we were in the game, had it under control, but it turned out completely the opposite.

"It was the worst game we played the entire season. In the most important moment of the season to play like this is embarrassing.

"In the semifinals of the Euroleague Final Four, to allow 100 points and lose by 38 says it all."

FIBA