Tau stuns host CSKA in semis
The 2005 Final Four was held in the Russian capital and CSKA Moscow put together a super team with the sole aim of celebrating in front of its fans in May. As a result, CSKA steamrolled the competition for a perfect record in the 14-game regular season, finished the Top 16 with 5-1 record and swept its best-of-three playoff series against Ulker. However, the season-long collision course that Maccabi Tel Aviv and CSKA were on was derailed by Tau Ceramica, which stunned CSKA 78-85 in the second semifinal at Olympiysky Arena. Arvydas Macijauskas led the winners with 23 points, including a shot-clock beating three-pointer that sealed the outcome down the stretch. Maccabi held up its end when Derrick Sharp came off the bench to lead six Maccabi scorers in double figures with 20 points in a 91-82 victory over Panathinaikos Athens.