The team made the win not just a way to get their own back on the Zaragoza team who’d taken the points in Barcelona, but also a homage to Pete Mikeal, who will be out for the rest of the season after being diagnosed with pulmonary embolism.

Although the first quarter didn’t go their way as CAI made a strong start, Regal Barça came back in the second and were nearly 10 points up at the break. They’d doubled that by the end of the game and their 18th win of the ACB season – and their 18th win on the trot-leaves them clear at the top following Madrid’s defeat to Power Electronics València.

Sada leads the fightback

Zaragoza didn’t seem to notice the absences of Andrés Miso and Carlos Cabezas at the start of the game as Rafael Hettsheimer and Paolo Quinteros made Barça suffer as the hosts opened up a five point gap at the end of the first 10 thanks to some dominant interior play.

Things changed dramatically in the second quarter as Víctor Sada led the visitors with a three pointer and four more quick points to bring them level en 26-26, before another three pointer from Morris forced the CAI coach to call a time out.

From then on, CAI gave up territory and Navarro rounded off the half to leave the scores at 34-44 with 36 seconds to go.

Lead extended

CAI weren’t throwing in the towel though and although it was nearly impossible to pressure Barça, Hettsheimer, who’d disappeared in the second quarter after a strong start, was again making himself felt –though this time he was well marshalled by Fran Vazquez who also made one spectacular block from Joan Riera.

Barça used their bench to keep the pace up, with Anderson (Barça’s leading scorer with 15 points) and Lakovic leading them to a 14 point lead at the end of the third. CAI made a timid attempt to come back, but Barça’s big guns came into play and they ended the game with a 20 point lead to again show their superiority in the league.