May 18, 2013
Top 16 Game 6 - March 12, 2009 CET: 20:15 Local time: 21:15 - NOKIA ARENA
Maccabi Electra 74 - 90 Regal FC Barcelona

Records

Ave.   Ave.
0-0 Final Four 0-0
0-0 Playoffs 0-0
2-3 Top 16 4-1
6-4 Regular Season 9-1
8-7 Overall 13-2

Referees

Crew Chief
PITSILKAS, NIKOLAOS, Greece
Referee
GKONTAS, SPIROS, Greece
Umpire
BELOSEVIC, ILIJA, Serbia

Team Stats

Ave.   Ave.
80.0 Points 82.1
34.7 Rebounds 34.3
9.9 O. Rebounds 9.1
24.9 D. Rebounds 25.2
14.2 Assists 16.1
8.7 Steals 7.6
2.5 Blocks 4.7
13.3 Turnovers 12.8
53.9 % 2PT 56.2 %
35.1 % 3PT 39.9 %
75.6 % FT 79.0 %
88.5 Index 98.3
Team Stats - Maccabi Electra
Team Stats - Regal FC Barcelona

Player Stats

Ave.   Ave.
14.1 / Eliyahu Points 14.4 / Navarro
7.6 / Fischer Rebounds 6.7 / ILYASOVA, ERSAN
2.3 / Fischer OR 1.9 / ILYASOVA, ERSAN
4.9 / Eliyahu DR 4.9 / ILYASOVA, ERSAN
4.3 / ARROYO, CARLOS Assists 3.7 / Navarro
1.4 / ARROYO, CARLOS Steals 1.3 / Navarro
1.7 / Fischer Blocks 1.9 / Vazquez
2.1 / Eliyahu Turnovers 2.3 / Navarro
69.8 % / Fischer 2PT 85.7 % / BARTON, LUBOS
100.0 % / Fischer 3PT 52.0 % / Basile
100.0 % / HAGAG, DROR FT 90.9 % / Basile
21.5 / Fischer Index 14.9 / Navarro
Team Roster - Maccabi Electra
Team Roster - Regal FC Barcelona

THE TAKE

A historic showdown with a big prize for one of the teams is set to take place in Tel Aviv, Israel, where Maccabi Electra welcomes Regal FC Barcelona in a key Group F game on Thursday at Nokia Arena. Maccabi has no chance to make it to the Quarterfinal Playoffs and faces its last Euroleague game this season - which will be an extra motivation for everyone. Meanwhile, Barcelona will win Group F and earn home-court advantage in the upcoming best-of-five playoffs if it beats Maccabi or if Alba Berlin downs Real Madrid in the Spanish capital also on Thursday. Maccabi faces severe injury problems around the baskets, as D'or Fischer is out with a face injury while Yaniv Green is questionable for this week's game. As such, Top 16 Week 5 co-MVP Charles Gaines and Lior Eliyahu are set to see extended playing time, while Omri Casspi may also see some minutes at power forward. Barcelona offers a deep, versatile frontcourt ready to make the most out of Maccabi's absences. Ersan Ilyasova and Daniel Santiago are set to start against Gaines and Eliyahu, while Fran Vazquez and David Andersen are ready to come off the bench to provide athleticism and versatility. Two of the best scorers in Euroleague Basketball history are ready to battle each other, as Marcus Brown of Maccabi Electra faces a key matchup against Regal FCB superstar Juan Carlos Navarro. Marcus Brown and Casspi are surrounded by experienced veterans made for games like this, such as Tal Burstein and Derrick Sharp. Casspi has a big test against small forward Lubos Barton. Meanwhile, Brown may face defensive stopper Roger Grimau while trying to outscore Navarro. Gianluca Basile will play a key role for Barcelona due to his unlimited shooting range and outstanding defensive skills. The point guard battle will be interesting, as Maccabi is deep in this position with team leader Carlos Arroyo and explosive playmaker Dee Brown. Arroyo hopes to make the most out of his creativity and open court skills against Victor Sada. Dee Brown will try to use his quickness and speed against Jaka Lakovic and Andre Barrett. Barcelona must get its frontcourt involved and put Gaines and Eliyahu into foul trouble to dominate the game. Maccabi, backed by an outstanding crowd, needs Marcus Brown and Arroyo to play an outstanding game and to lock the defensive boards to create opportunities in transition. An electric atmosphere promises to charge up this game between rivals from the opening tip.

GAME NOTES

Maccabi Electra
  • Guard Marcus Brown needs 8 more points to become the first player in Euroleague Basketball history to reach the 2,500-point mark for his career.
  • Marcus Brown once played 50 minutes – every minute of a double-overtime loss for Efes Pilsen against Barcelona in an October 2002 loss to Barcelona.
  • Guard Tal Burstein is closing in on 1,000 points for his Euroleague Basketball career. He enters this week’s game against Barcelona with 991 points in 139 career games. He also needs just 2 more three-pointers to reach 100 for his Euroleague career.
  • Burstein played one of the best games of his Euroleague career on the road at Barcelona in December 2005. Burstein recorded 24 points and a 32 index rating in 39 minutes – all Euroleague career highs in a 78-88 Maccabi win.
  • Big man Charles Gaines will face a former teammate, Lubos Barton, this week. They played side by side for DKV Joventut Badalona in the 2006-07 season.
  • Maccabi qualified for the 2008 Final Four by eliminating Barcelona 2-1 in the Quarterfinals Playoffs. Only four Maccabi players from that series – Tal Burstein, Omri Casspi, Lior Eliyahu and Derrick Sharp – are still on the team.
  • Omri Casspi had one of the best games of his young career last season in Game 2 of the Quarterfinal Playoffs in Barcelona. He recorded the only double-double of his Euroleague career with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He set career highs with 8 defensive rebounds, 10 total rebounds, 30 minutes played and an index rating of 27.
Regal FC Barcelona
  • Barca has won 12 consecutive home games dating back to the end of the regular season last year.
  • Guard Juan Carlos Navarro has made at least 1 three-pointer in nine straight games. He is shooting 44.2% from downtown over that stretch.
  • Guard Gianluca Basile is 2 assists shy of becoming just the eighth player in Euroleague Basketball history to reach the 400-assist mark for his career.
  • Basile recorded his Euroleague career-high of 34 points in Barcelona’s 83-74 win over Maccabi in Game 2 of last season’s Quarterfinal Playoffs.
  • Forward Fran Vasquez has recorded four different career highs against Maccabi, all of them in the quarterfinals series last season. He grabbed 8 defensive rebounds in Game 2 and had 7 offensive rebounds, 13 total rebounds and played 38 minutes in Game 3.
  • Center David Andersen matched his season high with 22 points against Real Madrid last week.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

GERSHON, PINI
Maccabi Electra
"This is a Euroleague game, and in such high level of competition professionals want to win every game. The fact Regal FC Barcelona must win could put some pressure on them, and we will try to take advantage of that. Maccabi is a club with big pride and tradition, and these are two things that will have to bring to this game, not only because we lack a couple of key players, but also because we need to show that we do the best we can even if our season has already finished earlier than we hoped."
PASCUAL, XAVIER
Regal FC Barcelona
"I think that we are mentally prepared to play in a complicated atmosphere, but we cannot fear that. The team has done its homework and know we have to do the last effort and finish the Top 16 with the best possible result. For now we are happy about being in the Quarterfinal Playoffs, but we want to be first in our group to have the homecourt advantage. It will be however a very complicated game. Even though Maccabi Electra has no options to advance anymore, I am sure they will want to say goodbye to the Euroleague with a win."

Players

CASSPI, OMRI
Maccabi Electra
"This game is very important for us. We know it can't affect the standings, and our season in the Euroleague is over, but it's still a game and in Maccabi you want to win in any game, especially in the Euroleague, moreover in front of our fans in Nokia Arena. We are still short on the inside, and against Regal FC Barcelona's massive front line this will be a huge challenge, that will force each and every one of us to try to do more than the usual, but we promise to do our best to finish this season with a sweet taste."
BASILE, GIANLUCA
Regal FC Barcelona
"We need the homecourt advantage in the Quartrefinal Playoffs, that's why we have to end first in our Top 16 group. We are confident and we are really looking forward playing this game against Maccabi Electra. But we will have to play with a cold head, because we have to win at any cost. We cannot fail because the first place in the group would be a good prize, we depend on ourselves. The Nokia Arena is a hot court and even though Maccabi is already out, they won't be giving away this game. But as I said before, the only thing that matters is that we are concentrated and focused during the game."
Gianluca Basile - Regal FC BarcelonaRegal FC Barcelona downed Maccabi Electra 74-90 on Thursday at Tel Aviv’s Nokia Arena to lock up first place in Group F and home-court advantage in the Quarterfinal Playoffs. Barca will meet Spanish League rival Tau Ceramica in the upcoming best-of-five playoffs. Gianluca Basile drilled 7 three-pointers in 9 attempts to finish with 23 points to lead Barca to its fifth straight win. Fran Vazquez’s strong play inside helped Barca back from a small deficit in the second period to take a 39-45 halftime lead and the visitors steadily built on it thanks to a balanced attack that featured five scorers in double figures in route to the win. Juan Carlos Navarro added 19 for the winners, Vazquez scored 15 with 3 blocked shots, Ersan Ilyasova produced 14 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks and Danial Santiago scored 11. Maccabi’s Marcus Brown became the first player to reach 2,5000 points in Euroleague Basketball history as he finished with 16. Carlos Arroyo also scored 16 for Maccabi, while Lior Eliyahu and Omri Casspi added 12 each and Charles Gaines posted 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Marcus Brown - Maccabi ElectraThere were expectations of a fast-paced, high-scoring game from the start as both teams opened with three-guard lineups – Arroyo, Marcus Brown and Dee Brown for Maccabi and Victor Sada, Navarro and Basile for Barcelona. Each team misfired once before Dee Brown opened the scoring with a triple. David Andersen’s baseline jumper accounted for Barca’s first basket before a Navarro three gave the visitors the lead. Maccabi tied it twice through Eliyahu and Marcus Brown, but Basile kept Barca ahead with a pair of triples. A pair of baskets inside from Eliyahu tied the score at 13-13. The Maccabi defense managed to quiet Barca’s attack while Gaines capped a 7-0 run with a follow-up basket to put Maccabi up 3. Navarro and Ilyasova kept it close with free throws only to see Marcus Brown bury a three from the corner. Navarro added 2 free throws to make it 22-19 at the end of the opening period.

Vazquez put in a jump hook over Gaines, but Eliyahu matched him at the other end. Vazquez added another basket on the offensive glass, threw down a one-handed jam to tie the score and came up with an impressive block as Barca tried to take control. Another Vazquez slam put Barca ahead only for Eliyahu to answer for Maccabi. Roger Grimau became the first Barcelona player not named Fran Vazquez to score in the period and soon after Navarro drilled a three in transition. Tal Burstein led Maccabi back with 4 free throws, a steal and an assist to Marcus Brown for a jumper. Basile answered from downtown, but Bustein fed Gaines for a slam. Ilyasova hit a jumper from outside before Marcus Brown weaved his way to the basket for his 2,500th career point. Basile and Andre Barrett worked the break brilliantly to get the former a basket and Santiago dropped in a second-chance dunk that gave the visitors a 39-45 lead at halftime.

Ersan Ilyasova and Lubos Barton celebrates - Regal FC BarcelonaBasile picked up where he left off in the first half by drilling his fifth triple of the night. Marcus Brown pulled up for a three at the other end, however the visitors continued to push and soon an Ilyasova triple put Barca up 10. Casspi’s first basket was followed by a Gaines basket-plus-foul as Maccabi drew within 49-54. Dee Brown provided a highlight with a block from behind of a Santiago dunk attempt – Santiago is 31 centimeters taller than Brown – that led to a fast break basket, but Santiago came right back with a powerful two-handed jam. Ilyasova restored Barca’s 10-point lead with a triple and a bank shot. Jaka Lakovic added a free throw as the visitors took a 55-66 advantage into the final period.

Vazquez increased Barca’s lead to 13 before Casspi rifled in a triple. Vazquez followed Lubos Barton’s miss for an easy bucket and Basile netted another three-pointer as the Maccabi fans began to lose hope. Arroyo scored twice to make it 62-73 and then drew an offensive foul from Sada. Casspi added another basket, but Navarro fed Vazquez for a pretty basket that restored order. Navarro went through Burstein for a three-point play that put Barcelona ahead 66-78 with three minutes to play. Lakovic added a three to ice the win as Barca could start to celebrate first place in the group, while Maccabi bid farewell from the Euroleague for the season.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Euroleague.net
Referees: PITSILKAS, NIKOLAOS (GRE), GKONTAS, SPIROS (GRE), BELOSEVIC, ILIJA (SRB)
Attendance: 10500
By Quarter1234
Maccabi Electra22171619
Regal FC Barcelona19262124
End of Quarter1234
Maccabi Electra22395574
Regal FC Barcelona19456690
Head coach: GERSHON, PINI
Maccabi Electra
# Player Min Pts 2FG
M-A
 3FG
M-A
 FT
M-A
 Rebounds As St To Bl Fouls PIR
O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv
4 GAINES, CHARLES 37:10 9 3/7   3/3 4 5 9 1 2 1 1 2 2 3 16
5 BROWN, MARCUS 32:09 16 4/7 2/4 2/2 1 3 4 1   1     4 5 16
6 SHARP, DERRICK 3:35     0/1                   1   -2
7 ARROYO, CARLOS 31:07 16 5/9 0/1 6/7 1   1 2 1 3     4 7 14
8 ELIYAHU, LIOR 31:15 12 6/13     2 5 7 4   3   2 2   9
10 BURSTEIN, TAL 15:33 4 0/2 0/4 4/4 1   1 2 3     1 2 2 3
11 SIMMONS, TRE DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
12 BROWN, DEE 25:18 3 0/3 1/2     4 4 2 1 3 1   2   2
13 CASSPI, OMRI 18:09 12 4/8 1/1 1/2 3 3 6   1 1 1 2 3 2 11
14 HAGAG, DROR 5:44 2 1/1               1     1    
21 FISCHER, D'OR DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Team           2   2   1           3
Totals 200:00 74 23/50 4/13 16/18 14 20 34 12 9 13 3 7 21 19 72
46% 30.8% 88.9%
Min: Minutes played; Pts: Points; 2FG M-A: 2-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); 3FG M-A: 3-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); FT M-A: Free Throws (Made-Attempted); Rebounds: O (Offensive), D (Defensive), T (Total); As: Assists; St: Steals; To: Turnovers; Bl: Blocks (Fv: In Favor / Ag: Against); Fouls: Cm (Commited), Rv (Received); PIR: Performance Index Rating
Head coach: PASCUAL, XAVIER
Regal FC Barcelona
# Player Min Pts 2FG
M-A
 3FG
M-A
 FT
M-A
 Rebounds As St To Bl Fouls PIR
O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv
5 BASILE, GIANLUCA 31:01 23 1/1 7/9     2 2 2 2       2 2 27
6 BARRETT, ANDRE 4:54           1 1 2   1     1 1 2
8 TRIAS, JORDI DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
9 BARTON, LUBOS 11:41     0/2     2 2           3   -3
10 LAKOVIC, JAKA 16:50 4   1/3 1/2   2 2 2 1 1     2 3 6
11 NAVARRO, JUAN CARLOS 33:54 19 2/2 2/6 9/9   1 1 4 3 1     1 5 26
13 ANDERSEN, DAVID 11:58 2 1/5 0/1   1 3 4 2   1       1 3
17 VAZQUEZ, FRAN 25:37 15 7/12   1/2 6   6 2     3   3 3 20
21 ILYASOVA, ERSAN 28:02 14 3/6 2/6 2/2 1 8 9   1 1 3   1 4 22
24 SADA, VICTOR 16:32   0/1 0/1   1   1 5 2 1   1 4    
25 SANTIAGO, DANIEL 14:23 11 4/6   3/4 2   2 1   1 1 1 2 2 10
44 GRIMAU, ROGER 5:08 2 1/3     2 1 3 1 1 2   1     2
Team           1 1 2   3           5
Totals 200:00 90 19/36 12/28 16/19 14 21 35 21 13 9 7 3 19 21 120
52.8% 42.9% 84.2%
This game is not yet played

Head Coaches

GERSHON, PINI
Maccabi Electra
"The teams that qualified from this group were better than us. We hoped to finish the Top 16 with a win, but they were better today as well. We did our best, but it wasn't enough. When I came here, the target was to reach the Top 16 and we made it, but this year almost every team that reached the next level played better than us."
PASCUAL, XAVIER
Regal FC Barcelona
"The last time Barcelona won here was many years ago, so this win means a lot to the club. We didn't play well the whole 40 minutes, but we found the way to get this important win. Maccabi played zone and pressured on full court and that gave us some trouble in some points, but we found the way to overcome and finish first in the group."

Players

SHARP, DERRICK
Maccabi Electra
"This season was a disappointment, but I'm talking only about the Euroleague season because we still have a big target ahead of us in the Israeli League. We didn't want to finish the season like this, but that's life. Barcelona is a great team and I wish them all the best in the future."
GRIMAU, ROGER
Regal FC Barcelona
"We came here to win, but we knew it was not going to be easy, even if the game didn't matter for Maccabi. In the first half we were still close, but in the second half we ran better and shot the ball much better and it helped us to get this very important win."
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