FCBARCELONA.CAT

03.02.2008 14:15

Teamwork and victory (79-86)

Sònia de Alba

AXA Barça came from behind to defeat MMT Estudiantes in Madrid in their final game before the Copa del Rey. The Blaugrana were able to bounce back after conceding 33 points in the first period.

Pepe Sánchez's vision along with Acker and Lakovic's eye for a basket enabled the visitors to not have to live to regret losing the opening quarter by 13 points. As the organisation improved, so did the team play of the Barça side.

No defence

Velimir Perasovic's outfit began the game strongly and were helped by the slow opening from the Blaugrana as they forgot to defend and enabled Estudiantes to chalk up 33 points in ten minutes. That scoreline was a record for Barcleona this season, as they had not conceded so many points in such a short space of time.

Michael Morandais was in particularly impressive form at the beginning as the Frenchman sunk ten points of his own while Sergio Sánchez and Carlos Suarez were also proving that they were up for the contest.

Dusko Ivanovic's Barça side had no reaction and were strugglig to orgsnise themselves defensively.

Maintaining pace

After the first stoppage, the visitors began to improve and found their feet as Pepe Sánchez sparked into life. The Argentinian's vision, combined with strong runs from Grimau and Ilyasuva raised the tension in the game and the hosts wee only able to score six points. That was a record for Estudiantes, who not scored so few points in one quarter.

Ilyasova, who recently became the father to a daughter named Shenia, stood out won a foul and although he could not score the free throwm the scoreline remained at 35-30. Lakovic and Sánchez then scored triples to level matters, as the home team had scored a single, before Estudiantes edged ahead again and went in at the break 39-38 ahead.

Pepe Sánchez, m's new record

After the restart, Alex Acker turned things on their head once again as he scored to put Barça 39-40 ahead. The game's dynamics changed from the opening half and Barça had learned their lesson not to take their foot off the gas so frequently. Sergio Sánchez was forced to go off for the home team with an injury and that harmed Estudiantes' chances.

For Barça, Pepe Sánchez was still playing very well and after revolutionising the visitors in the first half, he was instrumental in a successful third and fourth quarter. With 11 assists, a personal record, Sánchez equalled Vlaod Ilievski. The distribution that he showed was very effective and helped Barcelona to move 52-55 in front.

Final fling

In the final quarter, Estudiantes looked to press forward and moved four points in fron at 73-69. But Barça were not about to give up the game and they came back once more to win the last stage by six points and claim victory.

The Blaugrana now have four days to prepare for the final stages of Copa del Rey. On Thursday, Barça take on Iurbentia Bilbao in Vitoria.