17.11.2010 22:31

Second European defeat (76-67)

Sònia de Alba

Regal Barça suffered their second defeat in the regular phase of the Euroleague, going down by nine points in Siena. Xavi Pascual’s team were always chasing the game and particularly in the second half, they were missing their normal accuracy.

It wasn’t a good game from Regal Barça with the three-pointers in particular disappointing –just four out of twenty-two attempts successful. Joe Ingles’ first game with the team was the main positive that Xavi Pascual can take from the tie, as he seemed to settle in pretty easily.

Ingles comes on and impresses from the start

It was an irregular start from Regal and Kaukenas, Rakovic and McCalebb opened up a an early gap, causing Pascual to bring on Ricky for Víctor Sada, a move that certainly improved things, but not enough to catch Montepaschi who were looking the more comfortable in attack.

The 10 point deficit that Regal had towards the end of the first quarter was an important warning for the team and Pascual chose this moment to give Ingles his debut with immediate results. In the two minutes and 38 seconds he was on court before the end of the quarter, the score moved from 22-12 to 26-23 with five points from the newcomer and a number of recoveries.

Improvement continues

The second quarter saw Regal Barça continue to improve, as their team play and pressuring got better. Pete Mickeal and Erazem Lorbek began to impose themselves and as Regal moved into a 30-31 lead, Montepaschi coach Simone Pianigiani was forced to call a time out to regroup, after which McCalebb again stepped up and the Italians went in 43-40 up at the break.

Points dry up

The half time break seemed to unsettle the visitors and their shooting accuracy deserted them, leading to a 15 point lead for the Italians by the fourth quarter. It now became a matter of preserving the basket average, but with only free throws clocking up the points and the three pointers not going in, it was tough work and the final 76-67 defeat leaves Regal third in Group C with a 3-2 record behind Montepaschi and Fenerbahçe, who are both on 4-1.