FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.03.2010 22:56

Barça secure first place (82-64)

Sònia de Alba

Regal Barça secured their passage to the next phase of the Euroleague in style as they beat Partisan by 18 points to ensure that they finished in first place of their Top 16 group.

Xavi Pascual’s side had not played at home for almost a month but they made up for that with a convincing display in front of their own supporters. The Palau was full of fans and dignitaries, such as the Mayor of Barcelona Jordi Hereu and players from other teams within the club such as Rutenka, Saric and Igropulo from Barça Borges and Alberto Borregán from Barça Sorli Discua.

As well as being able to send out a message in the competition with the victory over the Serbian outfit, the Blaugrana lined up a tantalising clásico encounter with Real Madrid in the next round after Los Merengues were beaten at home by Maccabi.

Both going through

Both Barça and Partisan had already qualified for the quarter-final play-offs leaving this game to decide who would finish first in Group E and who would be the runner-up. Despite their hosts being the favourites, the visiting outfit were keen to show that they had not travelled to make up the numbers and pressed forward early on.

Partisan were hoping to chalk up an early lead, but they instead found an inspired Juan Carlos Navarro in their path. The former NBA star netted no less than seven of the home team’s first eleven points only for the Serbs to fight back and actually move into an 11-14 lead.

The Barça comeback was equally as swift with the rotations from benches helping them to move 22-16 ahead at the end of the first quarter.

With tension high and the rhythm of the game lifted, the situation suited the away side and having fallen eight points behind early in the third period they showed why they have done so well in Europe this season. Patience had to be the key for Barça at this stage if they were to prevent Partisan from racing clear and that proved to be the case. Navarro was again the inspiration with a triple and Vázquez and Ricky Rubio also stood out.

Moving clear

With the atmosphere within the Palau almost bubbling over, Barça had to remain focussed and they were able to do that in order to produce a strong performance in the third quarter that was to prove to be decisive. Three consecutive triples from Basile and another from Navarro saw the hosts move no less than 20 points clear and that proved to be to be enough.

Partisan won the last period but were unable to bridge the gap that had already been created, but they had the consolation that they would be appearing in the next stage. Barça can now look forward to the quarter finals with Madrid waiting for them.