FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.02.2010 20:39

Magnificent display takes Cup (80-61)

Jordi Clos

Barca again steamrollered over Real Madrid to take the Copa del Rey – the Spanish King’s Cup – with a magnificent performance based on an impenetrable defence and some brilliant basketball that gave no chance to their opponents who trailed by 20 odd.

Regal Barça have taken three titles so far this season, with the Cup joining the Lliga Catalana and the Super Cup in the trophy cabinet. Xavi Pascual’s men took the trophy in Bilbao with an exhibition of basketball, brushing aside their eternal rivals just as they had done in the ACB game in Madrid earlier this season, dominating for virtually the whole game. A magnificent second quarter put them 15 points up (40-25) and Madrid just had no answer as Ricky Rubio’s magic took Regal to an emphatic 80-61 triumph.

Nervous start

The game began amidst the typical nerves of a final and Garbajosa and Jaric gave Madrid an early 5-8 lead, dominating the attacking rebounds and picking up easy points until eventual MVP Fran Vázquez came on for Barca and alongside Grimau in defence, tightened things up. Two three pointers from Basile put Barca 16-10 up, but Madrid were still controlling the rebound and causing personal fouls – both Vázquez and Grimau picked up two and sat out the rest of the first quarter which ended 19-16.

Brilliant second quarter

Regal Barça were focussed on the game now and their strong defence took control and although their exterior play, with the exception of Mickeal, was not clicking, the intensity of their game took them to a 29-19 lead. Ricky Rubio was directing things and Madrid were been shut out in defence as Barca opened up a 40-25 lead at the break after a 21-9 point period.

Magic Barca

On 22 minutes the scoreboard showed a massive 45-25 lead and Madrid just couldn’t get the Barca lead down below 20 points. Regal were really putting on the style now, showing off all their skill with spectacular smashes, alley-hoops three pointers…. This was becoming a really historic game for the club and it was an amazing 64-37 lead they took into the final quarter.

Historic display

Xavi Pascual wasn’t going to let his players relax in the final quarter though and he used his bench to the full to keep Madrid at a distance. Although Madrid finally cut the lead to “just”19 points at the end of the game as the Champions began to ease off, there was no doubt amongst the Madrid players that they were up against a better team. Barca simply steamrollered their way to the win in the final and it’s hard to remember a team to ever have won the competition with such a spectacular festival of basketball as Regal Barca did tonight.