FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.04.2007 19:43

Lakovic finishes off Vitoria (76-77)

In a thrilling finish, Jaka Lakovic, who’d scored just three points in the game up until then, hit a three pointer with just two seconds left of the game against TAU Ceramica to give Winterthur Barça a 76-77 win at the Fernando Buesa Arena.

TAU have been very much Winterthur’s bogey team of late, with Barça failing to win a single game of the last eight between the two teams, but Dusko Ivanovic’s players kept their cool and maintained their concentration to pull off an exciting last gasp win. The home team had built up an eight-point lead in the first quarter with star man Luis Scola leading his team with 27 points, whilst he and Splitter put Barça under pressure, forcing a third personal foul against both Fran Vázquez and Marconato in the first quarter.

Ivanovic masters rotations

Despite the accumulation of personal fouls, Ivanovic organised his bench perfectly, using all of his players to their maximum. The pairing of Kakiouzis and Trias in the second quarter put Barça ahead for the first time, though Prigioni and Peker hit back with five points and the home team went in at half time with a four point lead (43-39).

Navarro turns on the class

After the break Joan Carles Navarro came into his own and turned over TAU, a team who’ve lost just once at home this season, with a typically classy display. ‘La Bomba’ Navarro had chalked up 22 points just as the third period closed with the scores at 58-57 and although he only managed a single score in the fourth quarter - a three pointer of course – he’d already done the damage after the break.

Lakovic’s finale

The final quarter was a real chess game as both teams fought to get the upper hand. Navarro’s three-pointer opened up a four-point gap for Barça (62-66), whilst following a great assist from Lakovic, Jordi Trias pulled them back into a 71-72 lead after Scola had put TAU back in front. The last 90 seconds saw Splitter take a three-pointer to give TAU a 76-74 lead, whilst Roger Grimau’s fifth foul with 12 seconds to go obliged Ivanovic to call a time out, which served to plan for Lakovic’s final thrilling score.