06.11.2010 19:57

Teamwork gets better of Cajasol (63-70)

Sònia de Alba

Barça found what it takes to get the better of a tough Cajasol team. Led by Pete Mickeal (23 points) they worked as a team to defeat a team that held them against the ropes as they made their fifth ACB win.

It promised to be a difficult game. The loss to Fenerbahçe had hurt and barça wanted to get back to their winning ways. But with just 48 hours rest before another long journey to Sevilla, one of the most defensively efficient sides in the ACB, things were ominous. But Xavi Pascual’s side have come through tougher challenges, and brought out all the right qualities to ensure they stay top of the champion ship table.

Quick reaction

Things started badly at the Municipal de San Pablo. The packed Andalusian pavilion saw a spirited Cajasol side go 17-11 up, which was when Xavi Pascual called his first timeout. It worked. A Navarro three, to celebrate his 450th ACB outing, and a Lakovic ended the period 19-16.

Boniface Ndong tied things with a 26th minute slam-dunk as the FCB machine rolled into top gear, and they stayed ahead from then to the end. Cajasol conjured up plenty of trouble through the impressive Katelynas, Calloway and Kirksay , but that only served to reduce a deficit that had grown to six. The half ended 37-38.

Mickeal makes mark

The third quarter brought much of the same, with Barcelona making the most of Sevilla’s defensive uncharacteristic errors. As is so often the case recently, Pete Mickeal was the man to watch. The American finished with 23 points with 7/7 in two-point throws and 2/3 for triples. But his compatriot for Cajasol, Louis Bullock also made his presence felt and the game was still hanging on a knife edge.

Cajasol cave in

Pascual’s side didn’t want any nasty surprises. Mickeal and Navarro in particular led the final assault that ultimately meant Regal Barça managed to bounce back from their Euroleague upset and can travel back north with the feeling of a job done well.