Regal have clinched the ACB League after winning game three of the final series at Miribilla. Xavi Pascual’s side won a gripping game to win back the crown they lost last year.
Match stats
BIZKAIA BILBAO BASKET, 55
REGAL FC BARCELONA, 64
Bizkaia Bilbao Basket (19+10+18+8): Jackson (8), Blums (5), Mumbrú (14), Hervelle
(8), Mavroeidis –starting five-; Warren (4), Vasileiadis (5), Fischer (5) y Banic (6).
Regal FC Barcelona (12+18+18+16): Sada (6), Navarro (16), Anderson (10), Lorbek
(7), Perovic (2) - starting five -; Ricky Rubio, Lakovic, Ingles (6), Grimau (2), Morris (2),
Vázquez (4) y Ndong (9).
Referees: Juan Carlos Arteaga, Emilio Pérez Pizarro and Antonio Conde. None fouled
out.
Venue: Bilbao Arena. Capacity of 9,000 spectators.
After missing out on the Spanish title following a perfect season a year ago, Regal Barça are
champions of the Liga ACB once again after winning at Miribilla and sweeping every series of the
play-offs.
Black pressure
As the teams came out, it was clear this was going to be a tough game
for the visitors. Miribilla was ready to get behind their team and almost everybody was decked out
in the team’s black colours. The atmosphere was frightening intense, even intimidating, but
Barça overcame such adversities to win the title, the sixth for Navarro, who was also named MVP,
the second for Xavi Pascual, and the first for Ricky and Anderson. Also making huge contributions
to this title were Sada, Boniface Ndong, and a spectacular Fran Vázquez in what has been a genuine
team effort.
As expected, the Basques came out strong, with Aaron Jackson who scored the first basket, and
Mumbrú leading their charge. The Catalan started brilliantly, getting 9 of his side’s first
13 points. From the outset, everything indicated we had a classic encounter in store.
The home side won the first period 19-12, with Regal Barça’s 3-pointers particularly
weak, but they made up for that in offensive rebounds, with Sada and N’Dong coming in from
behind to great effect. A 0-7 streak got Barcelona back in the hunt, but the all-blacks then shut
the Catalans out for 4 minutes and a 6-0 streak made it 25-19.
Barça in command
Barcelona’s 3-point rate remained appalling (0/10) until Navarro finally
found the target on their eleventh attempt. Two from N’Dong then finally put FCB ahead just
before the break 29-30. They had bounced back by winning the second period 10-18, and the title was
back in sight.
The second half started with Barça edging five ahead (31-36) and then
Navarro appeared to stretch that to eight (33-41). Bilbao responded with a straight six from
Jackson, and the previously stunned Miribilla was suddenly back on its feet.
But once again Barça conjured up a response. N’Dong and Navarro contributed well, but
as the game went into the last ten, it was all still wide open (47-48). Anderson got his first to
start the final period, but late oncomer Vasileiadis then got his side back in front at last
(51-50). Barça were still scandalously dominating the rebounds and Navarro took advantage of that
to put his side back on top. As the game went into its final throes, Regal Barça clearly did a
better a job of controlling affairs, and the experience of such players as Lorbek made all the
difference despite the efforts of the likes of Mumbrú and Hervelle. As matters drew to a close,
Barça were simply better, and ultimately took the title after an incredible postseason.