FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.10.2007 14:22

AXA FCB work hard for win (69-65)

Sònia de Alba

Gran Canaria failed to surprise Barça once again. The home side started weak but improved considerably in the second and third periods to clinch yet another win.

The game got off to a slow start, with poor play particularly from FCB. Gran Canaria Grupo Dunas were more alert and after five minutes had moved seven points ahead, obliging Ivanovic to call a time out. With Kornel David on form and well supported down the wings, Salva Maldonado’s side led by ten by the end of the first period (10-20).

Better second and third

Barça needed to improve defensively, and they did. Some intimidating plays from Mario Kasun and excellent throwing from Jaka Lakovic started confounding Gran Canaria’s earlier confidence, and by the break, Barça had tied the game at 30-30, and then moved ahead thanks to Lakovic picking out Fran Vázquez for a spectacular alley-hoop.

After the restart, Barça were just as convincing, defending and attacking well, but the visitors were kept in touch thanks to some crucial steals in the midcourt, but could not hold on for long, as Barça stormed into a match-clinching 20 point lead that had looked extremely unlikely less than fifteen minutes earlier.

Kasun lays on the style

Despite still having trouble with his back, Mario Kasun was the key in this dramatic surge with 12 points in just 21 minutes, and the only way Gran Canaria could find to stop him was to commit fouls, until he was eventually withdrawn with three minutes of the third period left and Barça leading 54-36.

Suffering to the end

But this extraordinary game was not over yet. Some clumsy losses saw Gran Canaria spark up a late comeback and the damage could have been worse had they had just a little more time. Affairs ended with Barça winning to go 3-0 in the ACB as attention now turns to the first Euroleague game of the season in Belgrade . The side flies out to Serbia on Tuesday for the Partizan v AXA FC Barcelona game.