FCBARCELONA.CAT

31.01.2008 21:40

Final win of the regular season (65-69)

Sònia de Alba

AXA Barça have ended their Euroleague group stage on a winning note. With 9 wins in 14 games, AXA Barça have finished third in Group C ahead of next Monday’s draw for the Top 16.

AXA Barça had to work hard to overcome Brose Baskets. The German team’s last game in front of their own fans was their chance to make up for the disaster of an 85-37 defeat in Belgrade the previous week.

The slow pace of the game spread from the home team but, except for the very first points, Barça controlled the scoreboard in the opening minutes.

Inconsistency

Barça took the first quarter 16-21 only to take a dip in the second of 15-13. The game flowed irregularly and both coaches were forced to call time-out. The score stood at 21-21.

Ersan Ilyasova made an impact with a three-pointer that gave Barça a seven point lead (23-30) three and a half minutes before the end of the second quarter.

However, the gap narrowed again to send the players back to the locker rooms with the scoreboard at 31-34.

Brose take the third quarter

The Germans made a bright start to the third quarter with two baskets from Suput and Hamann. Suput sank three consecutive three-pointers (a personal tally of 17 points) to give the home team a 51-46 advantage after three periods.

Barça take charge

Dusko Ivanovic continued to look for fluidity in the inside game and through Trias, Vázquez and Moncasi –who played from the second quarter – Barça regained control of the game.

Jaka Lakovic opened with a triple and together with Grimau stimulated a timely reaction from the Barça squad. Dirk Bauermann called time-out with three minutes left on the clock and the scoreboard at 59-62.

Okulaja (formerly of Barça, Girona and Unicaja) reduced the gap to one point (61-62) but Lakovic hit back with a triple. Okulaja replied with a three-pointer and the bonus foul shot to make it 64-66. Ersan Ilyasova nailed another basket to turn the game definitively in Barça’s favour.

The Barça players kept their nerve as Trias notched up 20 rebounds only to miss his final two free throws, leaving his personal tally at 9 points.

Draw for Top 16 on Monday

The draw for the Top 16 will be held in the host city of Madrid on Monday 4th February. Barça will start from the third level as the worst third placed team in the three groups.