12.12.2010 19:49

Barça bounce back (55-65)

Sònia de Alba

FC Barcelona Regal bounced back from a very slow start to beat Blancos de Rueda in Valladolid and remain tucked in behind leaders Real Madrid in the Liga ACB.

The Blaugrana produced a tremendous display in the second, third and fourth periods to win the encounter by ten points on Sunday evening after losing the opening quarter by 14 points. Just like the team had to show in Istanbul in midweek against Fenerbahçe they had to once again on the domestic front as the defensive reorganisation carried out during the game proved to be the key.

Slow start

In the opening exchanges Barça looks bereft of ideas and their passing was poor with only Ricky Rubio ensuring that they had anything to hold on to in the way of respectability. It is a harsh assessment, but a realistic one as Rubio scored five of the Blaugrana's six points in a quarter that was dominated by the home side.

Valladolid netted 17 points and looked in command, but Barça were not o their knees for long and just five minutes into the second period things began to turn back in their favour.

Defensive pressure

Greater defensive pressure was crucial and that, combined with a number of unforced errors by Blancos de Rueda, meant that the visitors could pull themselves back into the match and reduce the arrears. Roger Grimau was central to the comeback as the captain showed true leadership so Barça only went inat the halfway stage just 30-25 behind.

Lakovic twisted his ankle and was unable to continue but that did not dampen the away team's spirits as they continued to press and drew to within two points of the hosts at the end of the third quarter.

Moving ahead

Grimau scored to make it 45-45 and from then Barça dominated and the skipper added a free throw to push his team into the lead. The points were now being accumulated much to Valladolid's dismay and they had no answer.

Joe Ingles stood out with 11 points of his own as he continues to show what a good acquisition he is while the Blaugrana moved into a ten-point lead before the end to put the defeat last week behind them.