FCBARCELONA.CAT

Skip menu

Main menu

Content menu


Top of page

Content

Link to related content

News article on: Basketball

Image associated to news article on:  The new project takes shape

The new project takes shape

The foundations of the new Regal Barça 2008/09 project were established during the preseason. The six new signings, apart from the technical secretary Joan Creus, meant that the team needed some extensive preparations before the season began.

Juan Carlos Navarro was the standard bearer of this new project after his year in the NBA. Other new faces were Lubos Barton, André Barrett, Víctor Sada, David Andersen and Puerto Rican star Daniel Santiago, the last to arrive. Incorporating so many new players was a tough challenge for the coaching staff – who also had to include Agustí Julbe. Andorra and Muntanyà were chosen to host these preparations.

Catalan League first official trophy at stake

The Palau Blaugrana saw Regal Barça take part in the first official trophy of the season. They beat the always competitive Ricoh Manresa (95-68) in the semi-finals in what was also the team’s official presentation to the fans. Some good performances from the new lads gave plenty of scope for optimism.

DKV Joventut was a much tougher proposition in the final and the 29 points from Mallet (USA) and 18 from Jasaitis (Lithuania) made it an impossible task for Barça despite great contributions from David Andersen (20 points) and Fran Vázquez (24). Joventut, coach by a good friend of Xavi Pascual, Sito Alonso, took the final and the Catalan league (83-95).

Second trophy slips away

Just days later Barça faced the ACB Super Cup against the same opponent as last year, TAU. This year TAU were coached by a figure well-known to Barça fans: Dusko Ivanovic. It was the first time the two coaches had gone head to head since they worked together at Barça.

TAU put together a sensational first quarter (23-4) but the rest of the game was low scoring and reflected the early season nature of the meeting. Ersan Ilyasova stood out for Barça with 18 points while the American McDonald chalked up 21. The final quarter was poor from both sides and Barça could mange only a meagre 4 points to lose the game by a narrow margin of 3 points (73-70).


Top of page

Back to top

Related content

Fixtures 11/12

View full content

Back to top
Top of page