FCBARCELONA.CAT

19.01.2008 21:51

Fourth consecutive defeat (88-74)

Sònia de Alba

AXA Barça fallen to Kalise Gran Canària. A combination of Carl English’s accuracy, and the absences of Mario Kasun, suffering from a heart flutter, and Grimau, through his fouling, has brought about the fourth consecutive defeat of Ivanovic’s team.

The home fans at the Centre Insular de Deportes helped their team on to victory, as did Carl English’s 28 points – making him to top scorer during the game.

Roger Grimau’s fifth foul during the last quarter and his subsequent protesting got him sent off, just after Mario Kasun had had to leave the court due to breathing problems. Kasun went on to receive treatment in the Perpetuo Socorro de Gran Canària Hospital.

It had been Mario Kasun who had opened the score with three points (2+1). He was one of AXA Barça’s key players, along with Alex Acker and Fran Vázquez.

But Kalise Gran Canària came back strongly, with Carl English warming up the ring, and Sitapha Savane harrying Kasun, leading to Dusko Ivanovic calling for time-out halfway through the first quarter. It was worth it, and with Basile getting points back, at the end of the first quarter things were all square (22-22).

Defenders give way to attacks

The start of the second quarter turned into a battle on the wings, and Roberto Guerra and Roger Grimau got their first points. It was still all square.

Jaka Lakovic, substituting Pepe Sánchez, briefly put Barça in the lead, but then things were turned around. The game became a duel of pivots, with Savane and Casun scoring, and then with Perez getting six consecutive points.

Dusko Ivanovic called for time-out again when the score stood at 40-34. The initial reaction was good, but then Mario Bruno Fernández, Víctor Baldo and Carl English helped put the home side ahead at the end of the second quarter by 50-41 (a partial score of 27-19, their best in the match).

Home team’s advantage

Despite a new connection between Pepe Sánchez and Fran Vázquez like last Thursday in the Euro-League, Barça were unable to come back. The local team got twelve points (55-43), including a new triple from English.

Grimau was once again the player with most fight left in him, managing to bring the difference to just six points (55-49), but then he was sent to the dug-out. This was a key moment for the home side, getting the 12 points back. The quarter finished at 64-57.

Without Kasun and Grimau

At the start of the final quarter, Mario Kasun had to leave the court due to breathing problems. Kasun went on to receive treatment in the Perpetuo Socorro de Gran Canària Hospital.

Two minutes later Roger Grimau’s fifth foul and his subsequent protesting got him sent off, which finally sunk Barça.

Carl English finished off the game for Kalise Gran Canària with a 14 point (88-74).