02.01.2011 14:28
Anderson delivers golden win (63-65)
Llorenç Tarrés (Special correspondent)
Regal Barça overcame the tiredness to hold on to top spot at the Bilbao Arena. Lorbek scored 18 and Anderson got 17, with the new signing getting the new year off to a glittering start.
Three days after the exertions of the win over Real Madrid, Regal Barça defended their league lead
at the ultra-modern Bilbao Arena. Katsikaris’ side are not fifth through luck, but it was
Xavi Pascual who was celebrating today, while Alan Andersen proved to have been an astute winter
signing.
Dreadful first period
The same five that started against Madrid got off to a great start with
a 0-7 streak that once again showed how highly motivated this team Is for any game.
But when Mumbrú scored a three, all that good work started collapsing, with Barça struggling
hopelessly to command the rebounds and the Bilbao Arena coming to life as the home side smashed
home a 12-2 run.
The first period was a nightmare for Regal Barça, but ended with Anderson getting his points
for the club from free throws, and then a Sada steal that led to a poor quarter ending 23-14.
Anderson inspires revolution
Anderson’s arrival on court certainly got Barcelona into the shooting positions they
had struggled to find until then. He looked confident early on, calling for the ball and taking the
initiative as he scored nine almost consecutive points. A twisted ankle put something of a hold on
his feisty start, but he was nevertheless decisive in almost every play.
Blums edged the Basques further into the lead, but Lorbek made it 37-31
at the break following a buzzer-beating three that kept Regal Barça in touch.
It was also Lorbek who opened the scoring in the second half, and the same man immediately
added a three to make it 37-36 before Perovic put Regal Barça back in the lead (39-40).
The visitors came into their own, and the hope was fading in the terraces until two straight
threes from Warren made it 47 each at the end of the third period.
Heads or tails
With cried of "yo-ta-ke" from the crowd, everything was set up for a frantic final
period, but it was the European champions that provided most of the magic. Roger Grimau was winning
seemingly impossible balls, and Ricky was running the show majestically, but what Barcelona really
needed was points.
Because Blums and Mumbrú were almost inexplicably gathering most of the scores for Bilbao
Basket and with two and a half to go, Hernández Sonseca’s three made it 63-58. Despite
playing the better ball, Regal Barça looked like they could be in form defeat. But that’s
when Anderson and Lorbek combined one more time to level things on 63 and it was anybody’s
game. Banic missed two free throws for Bilbao, and then Anderson pounced to sneak the dramatic
winner. After such a show of skill and determination, the mighty Regal Barça are still top of the
table
MATCH STATS
BILBAO BASKET, 63
REGAL FC BARCELONA, 65
Bizkaia Bilbao Basket (23+14+10+16): Fisher (3), Blums (11), Mumbrú (12), Banic (6)
and Sonseca (7) –starting five-; Javi Rodríguez (-), Jackson (6), Warren (10), Vasileiadis
(-), Hervelle (6) and Mavroeidis (2).
Regal FC Barcelona (14+17+16+18): Ricky Rubio (9), Navarro (4), Grimau (2), Lorbek
(18) and Perovic (7) - starting five -; Sada (4), Ingles (1), Anderson (17), Morris (3), Vázquez
(-) and Ndong (-).
Periods: 23-14, 37-31 (half time); 47-47 and 63-65 (final).
Referees: Arteaga, Jiménez and Munar.
Venue: Bilbao Arena (8,793 spectators).