FCBARCELONA.CAT

30.07.2008 09:00

Four Team Event In L.A.

Carles Cascante

FC Barcelona will participate in an historic basketball event in Los Angeles in October when they play in a four-way tournament alongside side the Lakes, the Raptors and Clippers.

It will be the fourth time that the Blaugrana have come up against NBA opposition after playing against the Denver Nuggets in 1987, the Memphis Grizzlies in 2003 and Philadelphia Sixers in 2006. It was against the latter of that trio that Barça made history as they became the first European team to beat a side from the NBA. This year the first game will see the Catalan giants take on the Lakers on October 18 and then face the winners of the Raptors and Clippers game a day later. If Barcelona lose then they will face the defeated team from the other encounter.

First meeting

The first time the tournament was held was in 1987 and the last time it was organised was in 1999. Since then the NBA has organised a range of games in Europe and in the United States and Canada. But returning to the McDonald's Open, Barça, along with Real Madrid, have been invited the most times to face American opposition of any European team. Maccabi Tel Aviv are the FIBA team that have played against sides from the NBA on the most occasions, however, with no less than 16 games against teams from the glamorous league.

Rome, 1989

In 1989, Barcelona took part in an event along with Jugoplastika from Split, Philips frm Milan and the Denver Nuggets. The Blaugrana played the NBA representatives and were defeated 137-103 in a one -sided affair before going down 136-104 to Philips. Denver Nuggets went on to win the event.

Barcelona, 1990

The Palau Sant Jordi was the venue for the event a year later and on that occasion the New York Knicks played along with POP 84 from Split, Scavolini from Pesaro and Barça. On this occasion, Barcelona were not given the chance to play the NBA team as they were beaten by POP 84 102-97 in the semi final and the Knicks went on to beat the Croatian outfit 117-101 in the final.

Paris, 1997

Omnisports from Paris-Bercy was the setting for the McDonald's event in 1997 in a six-team tournament. Barça, Chicago Bulls, Racing from Paris, Benetton from Treviso, Argentinian outfit Asociación Deportiva Atenas and Olympiacos. Once again, Barcelona did not meet the NBA side as they were beaten by Racing 97-84 and Benetton, 106-103. Michael Jordan led the Bulls to victory in the event.

Making history

Barcelona's second game against NBA opposition came in the Palau Sant Jordi against the Memphis Grizzlies on October 10, 2003. The American side won the game 91-80, but the game was a good lesson for the Blaugrana. Three years later, Barça took on the Sixers as part of the American side's NBA Live Tour of Europe. This time, the Catalan outfit made history with a 104-99 win.