Barcelona reach Final Four under the wire
Published: 10 April, 2009, 12:51
AFP Photo / Josep Lago
TAGS: Sport, Basketball, European Championships
Barcelona produced one of their best performances of the season as they beat Tau Ceramica in the deciding fifth game to reach the last four of Euroleague basketball.
The Catalans were in control from the start, with former CSKA forward David Andersen pushing the lead to 13 two minutes before halftime.
And Barca never looked back in the second. Drawing the line, Erson Ilyasova, who had a game-high 19 points, banked in a triple with the clock winding down in the third quarter.
The home club remained on cruise control in the fourth, resulting in Tau's missing the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
So nothing but recent former champions are heading to Berlin for the Final Four.
Holders CSKA with a record 7th straight appearance are up against Barcelona.
The other semi-final is an all-Greek clash, with 2007 Euroleague champs Panathinaikos going for their fifth title in 13 years, while their opponents Olympiakos return to the Final Four after a decade.
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