Maccabi scale new heights on way to title

TEL AVIV May 1 (Reuters) - Maccabi Tel Aviv's inspired 118-74 victory 
over Skipper Bologna in Saturday's European club championship game was 
a landmark performance with 11 new records set in a European Cup final.
Maccabi scored the highest-ever number of points and are the first to 
break the 100-point barrier.

They tied their own defensive mark by limiting Skipper to only 13 points 
in the first quarter while at the same time setting a new benchmark 
for most points in the first and fourth quarters -- 31 and 38 respectively.

There was more to come as the game progressed, with most points in 
a half (55), while their tally of 63 is the highest number ever in 
the second half of a game.

The winning margin -- 44 points -- is also a record for a final, 
bettering the previous mark of 15 points set by Panathinaikos when 
they beat Barcelona 73-58 in 1997.

Maccabi also had the most field goals (42) and the best total scoring 
percentage (69 per cent), far better than the previous mark of 
57 percent set in 2001 by Tau Ceramica of Spain.

Maccabi set a new standard when they limited Skipper to only 22 
rebounds in the game, compared to 23 when Zalgiris Kaunas beat 
Pop 84 Split in 1991.

They also scored the highest number of two-point shots -- 28 --with 
a record shooting percentage (74 per cent 28-38), better than 
Philips Milan's previous record of 27 set in 1988. Their total 
field-goal shooting was also a record at 69 per cent.

"We are a small country but we are a basketball power and with the 
talent available we have shown that even small nations can win," 
said Maccabi coach Pini Gershon.

"This victory was a team effort and not by just one person or coach," 
he added. "The players did an excellent job. The team deserve to be 
the Euroleague champions."