10.10.2009 21:49
Champions start with a win (63-80)
Sònia de Alba
Regal Barça began their Lliga ACB campaign with a convincing 63-80 win at league newcomers Xacobeo Blu:Sens with a solid performance that maintained their 2009-190 season unbeaten record.
The new season's ACB league began with a game between the team who've played most league matches
-1100 and débutantes and right from the start the gap in class between the two was evident, though
the Galician outfit never gave up the unequal fight, with Barca owned Nihad Dedovic leading the
resistance.
Ricky gets the first points
Ricky Rubio got Barca's first points of the league season to put them
0-2 up and although Dedovic got Xacobeo's first ACB basket in their history and Mark Johnson added
to that to take an ephemeral lead, it was Barca who dominated the first quarter thanks in no
smallpatr to their powerful bench, with Pete Mickeal and Boniface both featuring in the 21-16 lead
after 10 minutes.
With only Dedovic threatening for the hosts, Barac took control in the second quarter with
Pete Mickeal again to the fore, chalking up 10 points in the first half which ended 29-38.
Third quarter pressure
Barca maintained their high level of play after the break and once
Ricky had forced a third personal foul from Terry, Navarro stepped up with a couple of excellent
plays to make it 34-46 and Víctor Sada, Roger Grimau and Fran Vázquez rounded off the third quarter
at 43-59.
Xacobeo fightback in vain
Barca streched their lead to 20 points at the start of the final quarter, before Terry and
Jackson led a fightback for the locals with an 8 point flurry, but Barca hit back through Navarro
and Lorbeck-.voted MVP with 15 points to Navarro's 19 to finish comfortable 63-80 winners.
STATS
XACOBEO BLU:SENS, 63
REGAL FC BARCELONA, 80
Xacobeo Blu:Sens (16+13+14+20): Bulfoni (7), Dedovic (11), Stanic (2), Terry (7),
Jackson (20) – starting five - Vasileiadis (10), Aguilar (-), Manzano (-); Pasalic (2),
Sánchez (4)
Regal FC Barcelona (21+17+21+212): Rubio (2), Navarro (19), Vázquez (6), Morris
(-), Grimau (7) – starting five - Basile (3), Trias (-), Lakovic (2), Ndong (6), Sada (8),
Lorbek (15), Mickeal (12)
Referees: Amorós, Sánchez Montserrat and Sacristán