FCBARCELONA.CAT

02.04.2009 22:15

Game Five will decide (63-84)

Sònia de Alba

Regal FC Barcelona produced a superb performance to level their best-of-five Quarterfinal Playoffs series against TAU Ceramica in Vitoria at 2-2 to ensure that the winner will be decided in the Palau.

The Blaugrana's home stadium will be setting for the decisive encounter as Xavi Pascual's men go in search of a place in the Final Four in Berlin with their own fans roaring them on. The chance to play a fifth encounter came after an excellent display in the second half of an absorbing encounter in the Basque Country saw Barça produce some record-breaking basketball.

Juan Carlos Navarro started the game against TAU and he was in impressive form as he overcame the doubts after missing the third game in the series with a to leg injury to record 11 points and four assists.

Gianluca Basile was also in good form as he opened up with a triple before going on to sink 13 points, while Igor Rakocevic was in confident mood and performing well for the hosts.

The visitors moved in to a 5-9 lead after four minutes, but then TAU introduced Splitter and he lifted his side as they came back to level things up at 11-11 with three minutes of the first quarter remaining. Rakocevic cancelled out Lakovic's three-pointer and helped the home side move into a 19-17 lead at the first turnaround.

Ilyasova and Navarro took centre stage in the second period and their efforts saw the home team coach, Dusko Ivanovic, call a time out as he tried to find an answer to the Blaugrana duo's form. But confidence was growin in the away team even though as points were scored at one end, they were quickly matched at the other as the two teams remained neck and neck as they headed into a half-time with TAU

After the half-time break, Barça came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders and soon showed that they were taking control of the game. Fran Vazquez netted four without reply to force a TAU time out, but that did not help as Navarro netted a three more to put the visitors 41-50 ahead. Lakovic then sank another triple as his side settled down and were able to dictate the game.

Navarro then showe dhis class by netting back-to-back triples as Regal FC Barcelona edged 47-61 clear before TAU did make a comeback thanks to Rakocevic's three consecutive free throws followed by a basket from Mickael who reduced the gap to seven points.

TAU's efforts were halted there though as Andersen sparked a run of nine points without reply for Barcelona that moved them into a 54-70 lead heading into the forth quarter and from there the hosts could not find a way back into the match.

With no baskets i the opening three minutes of the fourth period, it was Barça who benefitted most as they were able to protect their huge advantage. Roger Grimau then added four in a row to give the visitors 20-point lead and TAU were now stunned by what had happened and appeared unable to answer in defence or up front.

Fran Vazquez summed up Barça's game by sinking superb shot to make 61-84 and ensure that the winner of the tie will not be decided in Palau Blaugrana in game five.