FCBARCELONA.CAT

01.05.2008 22:30

Home comforts (81-75)

Sònia de Alba

AXA FCB were in great form in their final home game of the ACB League regular season against a difficult PW Murcia outfit on Thursday. The Blaugrana were aiming to claim 2nd place in the league, but despite the win were unable to finish as runners-up

Xavi Paschal's side were unable to move up the table after DKV Joventut overwhelmed Granada and that result ensured that Barça would have to settle for third place. The only way that they could have achieved the feat would have been if the Badalona-based outfit had lost their final two matches, but their victory ensured that was not possible.

With third place tied up, however, Barcelona's main aim was to raise their game with a view to the play-offs, but they were unable to field Jaka Lakovic because he has yet to recover from a stomach injury.

Hunter opens the scoring

It was the visitors that started the game strong with Jimmie Hunter showing that he was on form, but Barça soon came into the encounter and reacted well. Before the end of the first period, the home team had chalked up a ten-point advantage.

Defensive changes

That gap was maintained for the opening four minutes of the second period before Polaris World alternated between zonal and man-marking at the back and broke up the rhythm of the Barcelona team. Three triples from Hunter ensured that Murcia moved to within a whisker of catching their hosts before finally overtaking them with a 31-42 lead. That did not last long as Mario Kasun netted the last basket of the half to put Barça a point back in front.

Pepe Sánchez on form

The visiting team, coach by Manolo Hussein, never let their rhythm drop, but it was Barça that remained the more focussed team. Pepe Sánchez was the main man in the third period as he stood out along with Roger Grimau in a period that saw the home team dominate, but fail to make the scoreboard match their performance on court. After 30 minutes the scoreline read 64-60.

Things did not change much in the final quarter with Sánchez controlling matter and Polaris battling on. Ersan Ilyasova scored four quick points to be able to allow Barcelona some room to breathe before Sánchez and Hunter exchanged free shot to round off the game.

Match statistics showed that Sánchez scored 18 points, managed 11 assists and had seven rebounds. His five interceptions was also a personal record.