FC Barcelona Basquet became the first team to reach this season’s Euroleague Final Four when Tuesday’s 67-56 win at UNICS Kazan put them 3-0 up against the Russian side in their best-of-five playoff series.
Last year’s runners-up Maccabi Tel Aviv took a 2-1 lead against holders Panathinaikos Athens after grinding out a 65-62 home win over the Greek side in front of a fervent crowd in the Nokia Arena.
Barcelona, the 2010 winners, had won the opening two games at home at Palau Blaugrana last week. They trailed throughout the first half in Kazan on Tuesday before playmaker Juan Carlos Navarro inspired them to an impressive comeback.
Photo: AFP
The all-time leading scorer in Europe’s premier basketball club competition buried four three-pointers to top the charts with 21 points, finishing as Barcelona’s only player to score in double digits.
“We expected a difficult road game against UNICS since we played two tough matches in Barcelona and we won after playing much better in the second half,” Navarro told the competition’s official Web site.
“UNICS have had a fantastic first season in the Euroleague, they reached the top eight and played well all season long,” Barcelona coach Xavier Pascual added.
Maccabi, beaten by six-time Euroleague winners Panathinaikos in last year’s final, seemed to be cruising after carving out a 41-28 lead at halftime.
Long-range efforts by Panathinaikos forward Stratos Perperoglu forced a dramatic finale and his teammate Nick Calathes missed a chance to send the game into overtime when his three-point attempt on the buzzer came off the rim.
Playmaker Yogev Ohayon led the winners with 12 points, one more than shooting guard Devin Smith, who also had nine rebounds.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely