The game in Cologne's Sporthalle between the continent's two strongest teams had all the ingredients of a European Cup final. In the stands there were nearly five thousand Israeli fans who never stopped cheering for their team, and quite a few less Italians who, however, also made themselves heard. Squibb and Macabbi knew each other perfectly, and both Bianchini and Klein were aware that their rivals had two or three high quality players on whom their teams depended for their play, so they both came up with an ultradefensive scheme to try and stop them. But while the Italians achieved their goal, the Maccabees were powerless to stop an inspired Marzorati and, above all, a tireless Flowers, who not only diluted in mediocrity Earl Williams but got tired of capturing rebounds on both boards and scoring in the face of the disorganization of the Israeli defense. In the end, it was a deserved victory for the team from Cantu, who thus became the first to win all three European titles (European Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup and Kora).

The Italians seemed to always find the best way to the basket, while Maccabi could never overcome the individual defensse of their rivals. Berkowitz suffered from Riva's overwhelming marking, Perry was forced to throw a basket from outside the area and Williams could not at any time with Flowers' inner play. In the Italian team Pierluigi Marzorati stood out, who directed his team in master plan and always had on the point a penetration or an outside shot.

So, Squibb was able to develop his usual schemes of play: physical wear, a slow pace, controlled and machacon and a great game as a whole. Maccabi, for his part, lost the roles very soon and resorted to their individualities, which on this occasion failed: neither Aroesti could lead his team properly, nor Berkowitz was the usual lethal pitcher, neither Williams nor Perry played comfortably. Only Silver maintained his usual tone, but ended up losing out on his team's individual game as well. They were two totally different concepts of basketball: the machinal game of the Italians against the Israeli inspiration; what happened was that the machine resisted and the inspiration did not have its day.

It was clear that, between two teams with a great offensive capacity, the victory would fall on the side of the successful defensive strategy. In this respect, Italian teams are true masters. The Cantu side used a man-assigned defense throughout the match, while Maccabi had to move from an individual to a 2-1-2 zone in the second half due to a build-up of personnel. This defensive change seemed to work for Klein, as he managed to cut the score from a maximum of ten points (65-55) to just two (69-67). However, Kupec, Marzorati and Flowers would be responsible for a new escape, to place a clear 79-71 four minutes from the end that would be final for the fate of the game.

The match began with individual markings in both sets: Marzorati-Aroesti, Riva-Berkowitz, Innocentin-Silver, Kupec-Perry, Flowers-Williams. Despite an initial Italian lead (4-0), Maccabi soon took the initiative on the scoreboard thanks to his rebound dominance and Berkowitz's outside throws (6-12, min. 4). That was the moment when Pierluigi Marzorati's figure emerged in the Squibb. The Italian base began to show his usual repertoire of play, with a great direction, penetrations and passes, from which benefited his teammates (in particular a lethal Kupec in the shot and a Flowers who overcame his weak start of the game). The match entered a phase of equality during the last half of the first half, although a final set of the Italian team allowed him to reach the break with a slight advantage (44-39).

After the restart, the match continued in the same vein of equality (Maccabi even managed to get back in front after two and a half minutes, 46-47), until a scoring streak from Riva, coupled with Flowers' total dominance in the inner game, made Squibbs take off again (65-55, min. 28). Klein then ordered a switch to a pressing zonal defense and, taking advantage of a downturn in Marzorati's play, Maccabi managed to move within two points (69-67, min. 33). However, the defensive wear and the precipitation of Maccabi team allowed the Italians to control the game until the end and ensure victory from the line of free throws. The Maccabi burned his last cartridge when it was only three points (81-78) to lack of 1'20' and then Silver missed a shot that could have meant 81-80 with 40 seconds left, and in the fight for the rebound Williams committed his fifth personal foul.

Courtesy of BasketFinals

Squibb Cantu - Maccabi Elite Tel-Aviv 86-80
Squibb Cantu (Valerio Bianchini): Pierluigi Marzorati 18, Antonello Riva 16, Denis Innocentin 6, Charles Kupec (203-F, college: Michigan) 23, Bruce Flowers 21; Fausto Bargna, Giorgio Cattini 2, Umberto Cappelletti dnp, Giuseppe Bosa dnp, Renzo Bariviera
Maccabi Elite SC (Ralph Klein): Motti Aroesti 4, Miki Berkowitz 16, Lou Silver 16, Aulcie Perry 15, Earl Williams 15; Jack Zimmerman 14, Howard Lassoff, Hanan Keren, Haim Markowitz dnp, Moshe Hershkowitz