With the EuroLeague Playoffs series all tied up at 1 win apiece, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will now play the host. The yellows will welcome Panathinaikos for game 3 at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade on Tuesday (8 PM Israel Time, 1 PM ET), looking to regain their advantage. Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday.
Oded Kattash’s squad defeated the Greeks 91-87 in game 1 in Athens to steal home court advantage, but suffered a 79-95 loss in game 2 without Wade Baldwin IV. Maccabi’s star guard did not return with the team to Israel, instead traveling to Croatia to receive extra treatments on his injured hamsting. His status for game 3 is uncertain.
“We got to focus on our principles on both sides of the floor, be better defensively and execute better offensively as well and we will do that”, proclaimed Bonzie Colson before the team took off to Belgrade, “We have some days to rest and prepare for our game on Tuesday. It’s gonna be an exciting atmosphere. Obviously we have some of our fans so we’re looking forward to that. We’re gonna do whatever we can to win”.
Pao has injury news of their own, as center Juancho Hernangomez missed game 2 and reportedly flew to Spain for examinations. Both teams did not play in the local leagues over the weekend in anticipation for game 3.
Thursday’s loss in game 2 was Maccabi’s second in 27 games, going back to early February. It was also their first defeat at the hands of Panathinaikos this season in the teams’ fourth encounter. The Israeli champs will look to improve on those records, and to do so will need to keep Kostas Sloukas at bay after his record breaking start to the series.
