The fifth and decisive game of the gripping contest between two of Europe's club basketball giants will be played in Barcelona next week, with the winners facing eight-times champions Real Madrid in the May 10-12 Final Four in London.
The winners of the CSKA Moscow v Caja Laboral Vitoria and Olympiakos Piraeus v Anadolu Efes Istanbul ties will meet in the other semi-final in the O2 Arena.
CSKA and Olympiakos lead the series 2-1 and can seal their berths in the showpiece event on Friday, when they visit their respective rivals.
The 32-year-old Navarro, whose illustrious career includes one season with the Memphis Grizzlies, scored 11 of his 17 points in the final period, including a treble of three-pointers which held off a late Panathinaikos rally in a jam-packed OAKA Arena.
CSKA and Olympiakos lead the series 2-1 and can seal their berths in the showpiece event on Friday, when they visit their respective rivals.
The 32-year-old Navarro, whose illustrious career includes one season with the Memphis Grizzlies, scored 11 of his 17 points in the final period, including a treble of three-pointers which held off a late Panathinaikos rally in a jam-packed OAKA Arena.
Croatia centre Ante Tomic sparked a decisive 12-0 run early in the second half to give Barcelona a 45-31 lead and the 2010 champions never looked back, although the home team cut the deficit to eight points in the closing stages.
Navarro then buried a pair of long-range efforts to silence a raucous Greek crowd and tie the series after Panathinaikos had won two games in a row to cancel out Barcelona's opening victory.
The versatile Tomic, whose speed and agility kept undoing the hosts, finished with 16 points and five rebounds while shooting guard Michael Bramos led a misfiring Panathinaikos with 15 points.
The home team nailed only five of 23 three-pointers against a tough and mobile Barcelona defence, dominated by Tomic and Brazilian guard Marcelinho Huertas who scored 10 points to go with six rebounds and as many assists.
Navarro then buried a pair of long-range efforts to silence a raucous Greek crowd and tie the series after Panathinaikos had won two games in a row to cancel out Barcelona's opening victory.
The versatile Tomic, whose speed and agility kept undoing the hosts, finished with 16 points and five rebounds while shooting guard Michael Bramos led a misfiring Panathinaikos with 15 points.
The home team nailed only five of 23 three-pointers against a tough and mobile Barcelona defence, dominated by Tomic and Brazilian guard Marcelinho Huertas who scored 10 points to go with six rebounds and as many assists.
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