FCBARCELONA.CAT

31.03.2009 22:27

Defeat means next game is a must-win (69-62)

Cristina Collado

Regal Barça have lost the third game of the series of the Euro league quarterfinal against TAU and now must win Thursday’s game to tie the series. Neither team played particularly well but TAU managed to conserve their early lead.

The game was prefaced by the news that Juan Carlos Navarro was unable to play due to his leg injury. Barça had their chances but failed to take advantage of TAU’s poor form. Regal Barça are now obliged to win the fourth game in the Palau on Thursday to stay in the hunt for European honour.

TAU take the lead

TAU took an early lead as two failed Barça attacks helped the Basque team open a 6-0 lead, the biggest lead in the first quarter. The defences were on top and points were hard to come by in these early minutes. Barça equalised three times (6-6, 9-9 and 11-11) but were unable to push ahead despite some sloppy play from TAU.

Free throws make the difference

The second period started with two baskets from TAU Cerámica which, added to the four last points in the first quarter, gave them a 9-0 partial score and the biggest lead so far (+9, 20-11). Regal Barça reacted through André Barrett, who played his first minutes in this quarterfinal series and made his debut with a three-pointer. However, a quick transition by Sergi Vidal meant 2+1 which put TAU 9 points ahead again.

Steals were a key factor in the first half of the game – Barça lost the ball nine times leading to quick transitions from TAU. However, the home side were also rather slack and also lost a lot of possession. But the number of free throws was the main difference between the two sides: TAU enjoyed 15 in the first half compared to none for Regal Barça. TAU sank 10 of the 15 and the resulting 10 points marked the difference at the break (29-20).

Two three-pointers

At the start of the third quarter, Regal Barça improved. Two three-pointers, firstly from Lakovic, and then from Basile, put Barça back in contention (+5, 33-25) but the reaction stopped there as TAU maintained their lead. Víctor Sada got a few minutes in the third quarter.

A few seconds before the end of the third quarter, Ilyasova fluffed a dunk after a steal by Víctor Sada. The mistake prompted a counterattack finished off by Pablo Prigioni with a three-pointer. The third quarter ended 46-37.
To within three points

The final quarter opened with the first free throw for Regal FC Barcelona for a foul on Gianluca Basile. However, the game continued with the same dynamic and TAU grew their lead to 12 points after a three-pointer by Teletovic (51-39).

Towards the end of the fourth quarter, Barça almost turned the game around and a foul by Rakocevic on Jaka Lakovic gave Barça two free throws plus possession He missed but, even so, Barça trailed by only five points. Lakovic made up with a field throw that took Barça to within 3 points with 24 seconds left on the clock (a partial score of 14-23). However, TAU hung on to clinch the game.