02.12.2010 22:27

Top 16 classification sealed (76-62)

Carles Cascante

Regal FC Barcelona sealed their classification to the Top 16 of the Euroleague after beating Cholet 76.62. The team’s interior play proved key to the win.

Although the team began the game unsteadily, Xavi Pascual’s men put their foot on the gas in the second quarter and went in 16 points up at half time. Although they again didn’t start too well after the break, Morris and Lakovic, together with a great marking job by Sada on Mejía, ensured a 61-44 lead going into the final 10 minutes, when Perovic stepped up to the mark to guarantee the win and a place in the last 16.

Slow start

The French team managed to dominate possession early on and Barça found it hard to hit the visitors on the break. Some sloppy defending also gave Cholet the chance to take an early lead and with three minutes left of the first quarter they were 9-15 up.

A three pointer from Morris, who’d come on for Lorbek, lifted the crowd and Regal pulled back to 15-15 before a last second three pointer from ex-ACB man Avdalovic made it 18-20 and the end of the quarter.

More aggression in defence

Barça immediately looked sharper in the second quarter and their more aggressive defence took the sting out of the French team’s attack. With Sada and Ricky putting the pressure on, Cholet found it hard to get their first basket and Pascual’s team surged to a 36-23 lead, with an inspired Ingles getting his second 2+1. A fine basket from Lorbek rounded off the half to send Regal in 44-28 ahead.

Cholet hit back

Cholet hit back after the break with 9 straight points without reply from Barça to take the score to 44-37 and Pascual’s team failed to get a score until 4 minutes and 50 seconds into the quarter, when Ricky hit a three pointer (47-37). However, just as in the second quarter, Morris turned things round and with Boniface Ndong looking sharp in defence, they took their lead to a maximum 17 points -56-39. Morris and Lakovic lifted the team and two free shots from Perovic took the lead to a new high of 18 points. Sada was dominating the Dominican Republic star Mejía and the visitors’ zonal 2-3 defence was constantly being overcome by Morris as the quarter finished 61-44.

Perovic's time

Kosta Perovic prove the hero of the final quarter, setting up a 20 point lead and showing great control in the attacking rebounds, the Serb was roundly applauded by the appreciative Palau crowd. The only negative point was Joe Ingles’ lack of accuracy and after his impressive debut against Manresa (21 points), he wasn’t quite so sharp tonight, despite some good play in the first half.

In the final minute of the game, Pascual gave Ángel Aparicio another chance in the Eurioleague.