FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.04.2009 22:25

We’re off to Berlin! (78-62)

Jordi Clos

Regal FC Barcelona have qualified for the Final Four in Berlin after brilliantly overcoming TAU Vitoria in the game five of their quarter final series. The Palau factor decided a game Barça dominated from start to finish.

FC Barcelona is still in a party mood. After the football team’s stunning display against Bayern, Regal Barça have now made it into their tenth basketball Final Four. And they did so in style. It has been a tremendous best-of-five-series, and on Thursday day it was all down to the wire for the final game, but in the end FCB were simply too good on the day for TAU. Boosted by a packed Palau, Xavi Pascual were simply astonishing, especially in the first and final periods.

Great start

Regal Barça dealt comfortably with a highly-charged beginning from TAU. With three pointers flying in (and Navarro simply perfect) it was already 14-4 in minute 5. It was all out attack from the start from the Catalans, but TAU also looked strong, with Splitter in particular causing danger. But playing intensive ball, Barça dominated the defensive rebounds and started creating some remarkably easy scoring opportunities. They could not have hoped for a better position at the end of the first period: 23-15.

Slowing down

Navarro would score 16 points in the first half, as the recital from the home side continued in the second period. TAU’s Igor Rakocevic and Pete Mickeal in particular led the visitors’ response, but without too much success, for Barcelona led by 12 in the 15th minute (32-20) and managed to hold on to that advantage, especially thanks to some highly effective free throw conversions (40-27, min 28). A three on the buzzer from Prigioni meant it was 40-30 at the break.

Regal Barça had defended superbly and balanced that with some sensible offence, throwing mainly from short and medium distances. The only area where Xavi Pascual’s side was struggling was in the counter attacks, with several unforced errors as a result of the extreme tension.

Strong on the paint

The Barça centres came into their own in the second half, especially Fran Vázquez, the team’s form player. Splitter (19 points) led the Barque resistance, but it never looked like they would be able to produce a comeback to trouble Regal Barça, it being 51-42 in minute 27). TAU’s physical presence provoked a fourth foul from Vázquez after 28 minutes, and without the Galician able to intimidate as he had done until then, that role was passed over to Andersen with some crucial rebounds and four essential points (55-44, min 29).

Ilyasova immense

A sublime three from Ersan Ilyasova at the end of the third period sent the Palau delirious. That was the biggest lead yet (58-44). The same Ilyasova then started the fourth period with yet another three, followed by a smash that was as good as the final nail in the TAU coffin. Yet that was not enough for Barça, as the lead was extended further still to make it 68-49 (min 34).

Festival at the Palau

With a massive lead of 70-49, Barça were then slightly knocked by back to back three pointers from the visitors in the 36th minute, giving them at least a glimmer of hope. But Lakovic replied immediately, having totally won his personal battle with Prigioni, who lost a crucial ball for Barça to sentence the game (74-58, min 38). From there on it was just a case of letting the clock tick down as the pavilion euphorically celebrated their ticket for the Final Four. The venue will be Berlin. The defending champions, CSKA, will be waiting.