FCBARCELONA.CAT

28.12.2008 14:08

2008 ends on a high (59-66)

Sònia de Alba

Regal Barça have ended the year with a ninth consecutive victory making it a perfect December. Gianluca Basile and Fran Vázquez led the team to a great away win against Iurbentia Bilbao Basket.

Coach Xavi Pascual’s men demonstrated that teamwork has made a qualitative leap forward. Beating BEC wasn’t easy. The fact is that Regal Barça had never beaten Iurbentia Bilbao at their current home but the team effort was outstanding, with Gianluca Basile and Fran Vázquez in excellent form, especially in the second half.

A slow start

However, Regal Barça started uncertainly. Iurbentia Bilbao needed the points and called on the spirit of BEC. A full house spurred on the Basque players during the opening minutes.

After an initial 0-2 scored by Ersan Ilyasova, Txus Vidorreta’s men chalked up a 9-0, forcing Regalo Barça to cut the flow of play and reorganise the game.

With Fran Vázquez struggling against Marko Banic, and Drago Pasalic working to great effect, the first quarter ended 19-8.

Half hearted fight back

Pascual shuffled the pack and though the replacements put their hearts into the game (Grimau played with a temperature while Navarro had back problems) Regal Barça needed something extra to move the scoreboard.

Step forward Basile. After a 0/9 in three-pointers, the Italian guard let rip, ably assisted by Navarro, and 19-17 made the situation look very different

Together with Basile, Fran Vázquez continued a titanic and exhausting fight for the zone, which finally achieved its reward.

However, Iurbentia continued to hold their ground. Andre Barrett levelled the score for the first time just three minutes from the break (25-25) before the home side surged to an 8-1 partial to finish the 20 minutes with a seven-point lead (33-26).

Navarro out

Juan Carlos Navarro was unable to continue after the break when doctors ruled him out at halftime due to his back problems.

Basile Vázquez show the way

The absence of Navarro is always a psychological blow for the team but, in spite of this, the game was already turning in Barça’s favour.

Víctor Sada covered the guard position, Barrett directed operations while Basile and Vázquez imposed logic and efficiency. Within four minutes of the third quarter, Regal Barça took the lead (37-40).

A serious and focused Barça then consolidated their lead (44-51). Basil notched up 21 points with a run of 6/14 in three-pointers and provided five gold plated assists. Meanwhile, Vázquez made his dominance felt with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Two free throws from a confident Barrett gave a maximum 16-point lead on the scoreboard (50-66) before Iurbentia clawed back nine points to leave the final score at 59-66.