The contenders for the Euroleague 2008 Final Four are known

[by Kris SANTIAGO] - The semi-final match ups for the European club championships (Slated to start May, 2nd in Madrid, Spain) known as the "Euroleague are known:

Montepaschi Siena faces Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv

The Italian champion had no problems to advance after routing Fenerbahce Ulker on their on turf 65-86, and they had earlier won the first game in Siena 73-66 and closed the series with the second win in Istanbul. 

Siena built a comfortable lead in the first quarter against the surprisingly weak hosts who managed to have a short come-back in the second but the Italians pulled away again and never looked back to reach the Final Four in Madrid. Americans James White and Tarence Kinsey were a non-factor for Fenerbahce, and Will Solomon had 17 turnovers. 

Bootsy Thornton and Ksystof Lavrinovic scored each18 points while Terrell McIntyre had 16 points and six assists followed by Romain Sato with 13 points and eight rebounds. 

For more inside on the team check out this link here. 

Israeli basketball-powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv clinched its place in the Final Four by winning game three 88-75 of the best-of-three series at home against F.C. Axa Barcelona from Spain. Barcelona led early in the first but Will Bynum and David Bluthental would score on threes to put Maccabi ahead and gave the Israelis a nine-point advantage at halftime. 

After the break , Barca tried to rally back but strong Israeli Yotam Halperim and again Bynum kept Tel Aviv on distance even after Monteego Cummings and Gianluca Basile were both ejected for a small rumble on the court as well as Derrick harp for leaving the bench to break-up the fight.
In the final minutes when the game was won, Bynum showed off something for the celebrating fans and threw down a highlight dunk which should be a highlight on the web soon as well. 

Bluthenthal and Bynum each scored 21 points followed by Halperims 17 who had also nine assists to his credit.

Predictions: McIntyre injured his ankle and is going to have surgery on it, so he is doubtful for the Final Four even if it said that he will be ready for the final battle. It's Siena's third appearance but Maccabi recently won it in 2004 and 2005 and was stopped in 2006 by CSKA Moscow. I would give Maccabi the edge.

Tau Ceramica takes on vice-champs CSKA Moscow

The Basques went to the Final Four in the last three years and managed to make it once more by beating tough opponent Partizan Belgrade 85-68 at home in the decisive game. 

Earlier, the Serbs managed to beat Tau 76-55 in Belgrade's Pionir Arena but the Spanish-side bounced back at home and thrashed the underdogs by almost 20 points. 

The fourth quarter made the difference when Pete Mickael, Tiago Splitter and Igor Rakocevic sunk their shots and Tau pulled away to advance.
Mickeal led all players with 19 points while Tiago Splitter added 18 points and nine rebounds. 

Rakocevic netted 15 points and Mirza Teletovic another ten for the Vitoria-based team from the north of Spain.

2006 champions CSKA Moscow overcame the shock of loosing their first encounter with Olympiakos Piraeus and routed the Greeks by 25 points to head for another Final Four appearance (they made it to the finals in the last six years).In the 81-65 winner, Ramunas Siskauskas was the player of the night after scoring 24 points (5 of 6 from beyond the arc) in a close game which saw Moscow pulling away in the last quarter by winning it 20-6.CSKA shot nearly 60 % from the three-point line which broke the guests the neck. 

Slovenian Matjaz Smodis had 13 points and six rebounds while guard Theo Papaloukas nailed another 12 points for Russia's number one in basketball.

Predictions: Even if Coach Messina leaves Moscow , he wants to leave with another Euroleague-title.Tau was always close to win it ,but struggled in the end and may have a tough task to beat CSKA against which they have already lost twice this season. I still think that Tau is going to upset CSKA and make it to the final, as Moscow is playing away in Madrid in front of supporters of the Spanish-side.