For Barça, Lorbek, Ndong, Anderson and Navarro all scored an impressive 17 points though Huertas (17), Teletovic (23) and Barac (17) did their best to keep Caja Laboral in the game. However, an excellent team performance has given Barça the lead in the series.

Lorbek shoulders the responsibility

In the opening minutes, Lorbek and Teletovic left no one in any doubt that they were going to show the way forward. Regal Barça’s Slovenian star scored 9 of his team’s opening 15 points, sinking a three-pointer to put the scoreboard at 15-11.

Dusko Ivanovic called time out and whatever he said had the right effect as Marcelinho Huertas led his team-mates to an 18-19 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Visitors surrender lead

In the second quarter, Boniface Ndong took on the point-scoring responsibilities from Lorbek. However, Teletovic and Huertas took Caja Laboral to a maximum 8-point advantage (30-38). Barça fought back, with Anderson providing the drive while Ndong continued to chalk up the points to bring Barça to within a point of their opponents at the end of the second quarter (40-41).

Points and more points

But in the third quarter it was all Barça. Anderson and Navarro gradually improved their points tally, aided and abetted by the consistent scoring of Ndong and Lorbek. Sada stretched the lead to a maximum of 10+ in the 25th minute (57-47).

For the visitors, only Barac put up any resistance as Huertas and Teletovic faded in and out of the action. A 2+1 from Boniface Ndong, after a great assist from Ricky Rubio, left the scoreboard at +13 (64-51). Then, two quick fire baskets from Anderson sent Barça into the final quarter with a 72-61 lead. Barça’s 32 points in the third quarter speak volumes.

Sada block ignites the Palau

The last quarter featured a spectacular block by Victor Sada against the 2m 17cm Stanko Barac in the 34th minute, much to the delight of the Palau faithful and his team-mates. For Caja Laboral, Teletovic continued to challenge Barça’s superiority whereas Huertas showed the effects of his earlier efforts and gradually faded. In contrast, Juan Carlos Navarro finished strongly and together with Ndong, Lorbek and Anderson ended the game with 17 points. The final score, 86-71.