The match-up finally began after unexpected delays which were caused by a timer breakdown and the time taken by the hosts to improvise a new timer. Maccabi took to the court with Blumenthal, Halperin, Fizer, Cummings and Morris against Warren, Andric, Ayuso, Hoskin and Princ for the hosts.

The game started evenly with Maccabi passing the ball to Fizer on the inside. The hosts probably set out with one aim in mind – to wear Fizer down, and they eventually managed to stifle him by playing good defense. Hoskin’s excellent abilities put the hosts in the lead at 18-12, two minutes to the end of the first quarter. Good defensive play by Morris and a three from Bynum closed the gap somewhat, leaving the score at 20-17 to the hosts at the buzzer.

Maccabi started the second quarter with a good run and continued the momentum with Bynum setting up an alley-up and Halperin scoring a three. Maccabi took the lead at 22-20 and the host’s coach requested a time-out, two and a half minutes into the quarter. Morris and Batista, who did play during the first quarter, created a defensive curfew in the lane and helped Maccabi increase their lead to 28-22, half way through the quarter. Sherf’s energetic and athletic players, Bynum, Garcia and Batista took control of the whole court whilst leaving the hosts far behind.

A steal and basket by Batista already tallied the score at 38-24. 3 minutes to the buzzer. While the hosts were left totally hopeless, Maccabi was unstoppable and ended the quarter by burying their Croatian opponents with a 27-4 quarterly score and 44-24 overall at half-time.

Maccabi were relaxed at the open of the third quarter and sufficed with two modest free throw points from Halperin during the first two minutes. A basket from Hoskin was answered with an echoing dunk from Bynum, but Warren and Kelley warmed their engines and managed to close the gap to 51-36 with 4 minutes to go. The Croats remembered that they are quite capable of scoring threes and playing at home in front for their supporters. They continued their run with another three and closed the gap even further to 59-49 following a three by Rozic. Sherf’s time-out stabilized Maccabi a little and Batista scored from an offensive rebound. Kelley scored a crazy half court three in the last second of the quarter, leaving the score at 62-53 with one quarter to go.

The start of the last quarter belonged to Cibona with the hosts’ 9-0 unanswered run that ended with a three by Hoskin that leveled the score at 62-62, signaling to all, that the game could swing either way. Maccabi collected 4 points from the line and some space to breathe, but another three from Kelley immediately reclosed the gap to 66-65 to Maccabi with 6 minutes to go. The game became a tight, evenly matched battle with Maccabi holding on to a minimal lead. The Croats sported very intensive play and managed to neutralize Maccabi’s attack.

A fantastic three by Bynum put Maccabi back in the lead at 73-69 but Cibona were not shaken and answered with 5 consecutive points from Kelley who put the hosts in the lead at 74-73, 2 minutes to the final buzzer. Bynum, sporting excellent control of the game with an effective finish, scored and put Maccabi back into the lead. Cibona, trailing by one point, fought back stubbornly and remained right on Maccabi’s heels. In the final minute, a great defensive rebound by Morris who sent the ball to Bynum and in turn, sent the ball back to Morris to score, put Maccabi in the lead at 79-76 with 10 seconds to go. The Croats could not do much at this stage and Maccabi walked away victorious, 81-76.

Maccabi: Bynum 21, Halperin 13, Fizer 12, Batista 12 (10 rebounds), Morris 11 (15 rebounds), Garcia 6, Blumenthal 4, Caspi 2. Cummings and Sharp played without scoring.

Cibona: Hoskin 27, Kelley 18, Warren 12, Andric 10, Rozic 5, Princ 2, Kastropil 2.