11.11.2010 22:35

Champion overcomes adversities (69-55)

Llorenç Tarrés

Regal Barça put defeat to Fenerbahçe behind them and saw off Lietuvos in a great second half, when their teamwork was just too much for the Lithuanians.

In a game where injuries were a concern, Regal Barça got the win they needed to make up for last week’s loss. Things didn’t get off to the best of starts, especially in offence, but Xavi Pascual’s side soon gained control and made sure of an important victory.

Erratic start

Regal Barça may have started 4-0, but the first period, in which they went six minutes without scoring, was best forgotten. The lack of certainty with decisive throws suggested similar problems to those against Fenerbahçe.

Not even when Navarro and Mickeal, who both had injury concerns this week, did matters change. The game had adopted a pace that was better suited to the visitors, and matters were not helped by Fran Vázquez making three fouls in four minutes, which meant he played no further part until the second half.

Lietuvos, who have no big star but play as a tight unit, had El-Amin in their best player (8 of his team’s first 13 points). By the end of the first period, Barcelona were still trailing 10-11.

Perovic changes the script

But Perovic, who scored eight in a row, was carrying Barça, and they finally edged ahead at 18-17. Xavi Pascual read the opposing defence well, and relied on two-pointers to impose his team’s superiority.

The visitors meanwhile opted for long possessions to break the FCB rhythm. The ploy worked, but then Regal Barça bounced ahead with a three from Mickeal, his team’s first in six attempts, and the margin finally widened to 23-17 and a Navarro triple made things even better (27-19).

The side from Vilnius were still in it, and nobody in the Palau felt the job was done quite yet. FCB were clearly not enjoying the fact that their two best players were not fully fit, but even so, they finally broken the psychological barrier of ten points (34-25).

Barça relaxed

Ricky started the second half with a three-pointer from Regal Barça and matters looked more settled. El-Amin and the highly promising youngster Valanciunas were still the two most outstanding players on the court, but they could do nothing help a clearly inferior side.

Perovic was looking strong on the paint and Morris completed an excellent second period to end the third period with a commanding lead (42-30). The Lithuanians lacked the belief that they could make up such a deficit, meaning the final minutes lacked intensity all round and were more about damage limitation.

Vázquez returned for the final period but two more fouls meant he played no further part. This was no vintage performance from Regal Barça, but they did enough to make sure of the win. Pete Mickeal once against set an example of commitment, and led the night’s scoring with 16 points.