Caloiaro’s energies lift Maccabi past Panathinaikos

Coach Sfairopoulos’ starting five: Pargo, Wilbekin, Caloiaro, O’Bryant and Black. O’Bryant was the first to score in the game as Maccabi took the early 6:3 lead. Calathes gave Pao the 8:11 lead but Pargo found Johnny for a corner three to tie the game. Payne gave Panathinaikos the edge and Lojeski made both of his free throws to increase their lead to 13:17l. John DiBartolomeo had the final say in the first quarter scoring from deep as Maccabi trail 16:17.

Mitoglou completed the three point play but Cohen and Tyus completed the yellow and blue comeback forcing coach Pitino to call for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 24:20. Maccabi found their offensive rhythm as Scottie made it 29:24 but Lojeski completed the three point play to keep the greens within a striking distance. Scottie and Roll completed a 7:0 run to take the 36:27 lead. Thomas completed a 6:0 run for Panathinaikos forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout (36:33). The greens tried to get closer to Maccabi but Pargo was the last to score in first half giving Maccabi the 40:35 lead.

Kilpatrick scored from deep at the beginning of third but O’Bryant’s post up play sparked an 11:0 run for Maccabi who took the 51:38 lead. Caloiaro scored from deep but the greens answered with five points forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout (54:44). Caloiaro’s free throws kept Maccabi’s lead in double digits with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter (58:48). Lekavicious was the last to score in the third quarter to keep Maccabi’s lead in single digit (62:54).

Lekavicious scored from deep to trim Maccabi’s lead to 62:57 but Roll and Caloiaro answered for the yellows keeping Pao at bay (67:57). O’Bryant found Scottie for a wing three but Pao reacted with a 7:0 run to make it 70:66. Caloiaro’s hustle paid off for Maccabi, Calathes tried to keep the greens in the game but Maccabi’s weapon of mass destruction Angelo Caloiaro called game with an amazing wing three from which Panathinaikos could not recover as the squad in yellow and blue secures the important 84:75 home win.