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Euroleague 2004-2005
Euroleague Final: Maccabi Elite Tel-Aviv - Tau Ceramica Vitoria 90-78 Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Pini Gershon): Jasikevicius 22, Burstein 8, Parker 12, Baston 18, Vujcic 13, Sharp, Kommatos 13, Halperin 2, Dotan 2, Shelef, Green Euroleague Standings 2004-2005
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 Besiktas Euroleague Final  Maccabi Elite Tel-Aviv conquer Euroleague trophy
 Maccabi wins the titel, Saras is Final Four MVP-Apr 18, 2005
Maccabi Elite Tel-Aviv - Tau Ceramica Vitoria : 90-78 (26-15,24-24,15-23,25-16)
Both teams fully deserved to be in this final: Maccabi have been amazing throughout the season, while Tau have been showing some of the best basketball in Europe during the last months and ended CSKA dreams in the semi-final on Friday. The game started like a rollercoaster a' both teams scored on consecutive possessions and continued running up and down the floor until Tau suddenly found out that they are behind by 7: 5-12. Everybody always talk about Maccabi's impressive offence, but not many people give Maccabi credit for their defence. The reigning Euroleague Champion played an incredible first half on the defensive end. Pini Gershon switched the defensive formation all the time. Tau never knew whether to expect a personal defence, a zone or a box-in-one with Tal Burstein (199-G-80, agency: Interperformances) or Anthony Parker (196-G-75, college: Bradley) denying the ball to Arvydas Macijauskas (192-G-80). Especially Burstein did a great job on the Lithuanian supershooter. The first quarter ended with a double digit Maccabi lead: 26-15. But Tau is an experienced team that always plays with its heart; in the second quarter they went down to Luis Scola (206-F/C-80) who created open shots for his team-mates and made some shots himself as well. The Spanish team didnat manage to minimize Maccabias lead, but they did the most important thing a' they stopped Maccabias run and prevented them from closing the game in the first half: 50-49. The top scorer of the first half was (very unexpectfully) Nestor Kommatos (203-F-77) with 11 points, he connected for 3/3 from downtown. Coach Dusko Ivanovic let young talent Tiago Splitter (211-C/F-85, agency: Interperformances) start the second half in stead of Kornel David (206-F-71, agency: Interperformances), and the move paid off as Scola and Splitter put a massive pressure on Maccabias frontline on both ends. Morever, Travis Hansen (198-G/F-78, college: BYU) forced Euroleague MVP Parker into difficult shots, while scoring a bunch of three-pointers himself. Tau almost equalised, but Sarunas Jasikevicius (192-G-76, college: Maryland) saved the lead for Maccabi with a three-pointer late in the third quarter. Both teams pushed the tempo in the beginning of the fourth quarter, and the momentum could go to each side. Eventually Maccabi, under leadership of a fantastic Jasikevicius, prevailed to become the first team in almost 15 years to make a Euroleague repeat. Lithuanian superstar was clearly MVP of the game and of the whole Final Four tournament. He collected 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the final. Luis Scola fought as much as he could for Vitoria, he finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Point-guard Jose Manuel Calderon (190-G-81) added 16 points, Travis Hansen and Arvydas Macijauskas added each 13 points for the Spanish team. However, Macijauskas, Euroleagueas best shooting guard, was only able to hit a single field goal in this game, missing a couple of open three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Maccabi had 5 players in double figures. Maceo Baston (206-F-75, agency: Priority Sports, college: Michigan) put up a very impressive performance with 18 points, 7 rebounds and a number of thunderous dunks. All in all, thereas not much doubt that the best team won the Euroleague Crown of 2004/2005.  Euroleague 2004-05 Season Awards (by Eurobasket.com)-Apr 20, 2005
Player of the Year: Sarunas Jasikevicius (192-G-76) (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
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