FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.03.2007 16:31

Qualification secured

Winterthur Barça have already qualified for the quarter finals of the Euroleague. With 2 rounds of matches still remaining, Barça are already through thanks to the combination of their triumph coupled with the defeat of Efes against Panathinaikos.

When the draw for the Top 16 was made on the 5th of February few would have thought that qualification from a group with Panathinaikos, Efes and Prokom would be achieved so easily. After four rounds of games the Copa del Rey winners have won three and lost just once – away to the mighty Panathinaikos of Zelko Obradovic. With mathematical qualification already in the bag, Barça must now concentrate on winning their last 2 matches to win the group and secure a favourable draw in the play-offs.

The road to perfection

This Barça team is much changed from the one that started the season. At the start of the season the team was still learning and had many new faces such as Roko Leni Ukic, Mario Kasun, Fran Vázquez and Jaka Lakovic. In that time the team was inconsistent and was on the receiving end of criticism from the public and the media. In spite of the pressure Dusko Ivanovic stuck to his guns and now the hard work is finally beginning to pay off.

The coach from Montenegro has found the right balance in a team that was made to win, but as for all winning teams time was required to adapt. Ivanovic is searching for the type of perfection that will allow Barça to “play poorly and still win”. Another interesting fact: In the ACB league, Barça is the second best team since the half-way point. While in their last outing in European competition in Sopot against Prokom, Winterthur FC Barcelona once again demonstrated good team work and an excellent balance between interior and exterior play – without doubt one of the keys in the team’s improvement.
The Cup, a turning point

Juan Carlos Navarro was the key player in the early games of the season. In fact the guard from Sant Feliu finished the first phase of the Euroleague as top scorer in the competition with an average of 18 points. The Copa del Rey in Malaga was without doubt the turning point in the season. Despite losing to Canarias in the ACB league the team was on an upward spiral and that was shown by their triumph in Malaga.

Ivanovic’s team began to click with Lakovic inspired, Ukic continually improving, Jordi Trias outstanding since his MVP award in Malaga and with Basile and Marconato in their best form since joining Barça a year and a half ago. Fran Vasquez also deserves a mention. The Galician is back to his spectacular best with increasingly prolific scoring from three and four metres distance.