30.12.2010 21:04

Win gives Regal top spot (95-75)

Llorenç Tarrés

Regal Barça close 2010 as leaders of the ACB after Thursday night’s thrashing of Real Madrid in a game Pascual’s team dominated from start to finish.

The team found their best basketball at the right time and at the right place, as a packed Palau thrilled to yet another big win over the eternal rival. The intensity of the team could be seen pre-game on the players’ faces as they focussed on the job in hand –beating Madrid and retaking their rightful place at the top of the ACB.

And what a start they made, with seven quick points without reply, smashing Madrid from the off with some rapid counters and accurate shooting. Perovic, who unexpectedly started the game, led the early charge, but this was a win for the collective over the individual flashes from the Madrid players.

Dominant first quarter

Two three pointers from Lorbek, a dominant Lakovic, courage from Grimau and Sada and, as ever, the leadership of Navarro, soon had the hosts cruising at 19-5 as Messina desperately called a time out to try and pull his team back together. It was to no avail however, as two marvellous baskets from Grimau and Navarro provided Regal’s answer.

Real Madrid were again staring down the barrel of a humiliating defeat and even partials of 0-8 and 0-5 and some wholesale reshuffling of personnel couldn’t get them back into the match and a three pointer on the hooter from Sada meant Barça went in 28-15 up at the end of the first quarter.

Anderson debut

Two early personals from Sergio Rodríguez and Lakovic led to Anderson making his ACB debut and although he committed five fouls in his first minutes as a Barça player, he soon began to show signs that he could settle into his new club’s team play.

Fischer tried to get Madrid going, but two smashes from Vazquez and some aggressive defence from Sada again got the Palau crowd on their feet behind the team, who closed out the first half 49-34 up.

There was to be no change after the break, as Xavi Pascual’s team’s greater intensity and determination to put their talent at the service of the collective, against the isolated actions of Tucker, Llull and company, continued to pay dividends and once they had established a lead of more than 20 points it even began to look as if they might break the record points difference against Madrid (28 in 2000).

Navarro and Ricky scare

The only scare for Regal came in the third quarter, when Navarro and Ricky were both forced off after an accidental clash. Navarro soon returned to a great ovation, but Ricky was diagnosed with a possible broken nose and failed to re-appear.

Madrid managed to close the gap to 14 points, but Navarro upped the pace again and accompanied by Morris, led Barça’s final escape to finish with an impressive 20 point winning margin. Jaka Lakovic ended as leading points scorer with 17 and most revealingly, five Barça players ended with more than 10 points each. The Madrid bench finished the game as they have so many in recent seasons, with heads bowed and still unable to figure out a way to deal with Regal’s power.