Real Madrid on Tuesday evening completed a 3-0 sweep in the Euroleague best-of-five playoff series after an 87-76 away win over Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv and qualified for the Final Four tournament to be held on May 19 and 21 in Belgrade.
In front of 11,000 fans at the Menorah Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, the visitors dominated the first minutes, mainly thanks to a contribution from Walter Tavares.
However, points by Maccabi’s Scottie Wilbekin kept a close result at the end of the first quarter, 25-22 in favor of Real.
Sergio Llull and Guerschon Yabusele inspired Real to take a 48-34 lead in the 18th minute, on the way to 51-41 at halftime.
Maccabi cut the gap to 54-50, but Vincent Poirier and Llull regained control for Real, who led 73-61 at the end of the third quarter.
Alberto Abalde made it 81-66 in the 34th minute, securing the impressive Real win.
Llull scored 18 points for Real, while Yabusele recorded 16 points and 8 rebounds. Poirier added 14 points for the winners.
Wilbekin scored a game-high 22 points. His teammate James Nunnally added 17. ■
