FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.06.2007 00:16

Winterthur Barça focussed on game four (75-70)

Sònia de Alba

Winterthur FC Barcelona won their first game in the ACB League Final series as produced some superb basketball at crucial moments to defeat Real Madrid in the Palau and keep alive their hopes of being crowned champions.

The Blaugrana used their heads and their hearts to win this encounter and produced their best play at key times to ensure that there would be a fourth game. Dusko Ivanovic's side won the first and fourth quarters to finally edge out their opponents, who had made a strong comeback in the middle two periods, in what was a scintilating match up.

Perfect first quarter

The presidents of the two clubs, Joan Laporta and Ramón Calderón, sat together and laughed and joked as the tension built inside the arena. Knowing that only a victory would suffice, Barça began strongly and did not allow the visitors any time to settle. Three consecutive triples, one from Lakovic and two from Navarro, forced Madrid coach, Joan Plaza, to call for a break. The 11-point advantage soon becaome 15-0, however, as Gianluca Basile netted more points. The strength in Barça's attack was completemented by the power of their defence and with that combination, the hosts finished the first period some 16 points in the lead (24-8).

Powerful comeback

Real Madrid knew that they had to bounce back and did so after the first interval. While Winterthur Barça continued dominate the scoreboard, the visitors stretched the Blaugrana as they used a zonal defensive system to maximum effect. Ivanovic's side looked temproarily disorientated and that, along with the fouls called by the referees, saw the hosts drop points. Navarro, who received the award for being named the best point guard in Europe for 2006-07 before the game from the Euroleague CEO Jordi Bertomeu, was beginning to look frustrated at some of the decisions being called and had to bite his tongue. Basile chalked up some points only seconds before the half-time break, but Madrid had reduced the deficit considerably and went in only seven points behind (39-32).

Dramatic finale

The start of the third quarter saw Madrid really take their chances as Plaza's side lifted their game even further. Bullock, the game's top scorer with 21 points, netted a triple to put his team ahead, 53-54. For the first time the visitors were ahead and they maintained the challenge into the fourth quarter when Bullock ensured that they edged four points in front, their best lead of the encounter. Barça came back strongly, however, in the final minutes as Marconato and Jordi Trías attacked and restored the Blaugrana's early advantage. Plaza, sensing his team were slipping, tried everything to prevent the defeat, but Barça pressed on to win by five clear points (75-70).

Notable Stats

Felipe Reyes finished the game with five points to his name, all of which were added in the final quarter and, in fact, in the final minute. The Barça guards worked very hard throughout and Mario Kasun was outstanding as the managed four points and seven rebounds (the same as Marconato) to ensure that he was one of the stars of the evening.