FC Barcelona Regal - Cajasol: Decisive second half (78-64)

Barça Regal made it seven wins out of ten games in the ACB at the Palau this evening, beating a Cajasol side who are struggling in the bottom half of the table. After going in 29-32 down at half time, the hosts came out and put in a much better second 20 minutes and with Navarro stepping up to the plate to show his leadership, they finished with a 14 point lead, taking the third and fourth quarters  49-32, due in part to the depth of talent on the bench.

Ingles makes good start

Xavi Rabaseda and Joe Ingles started in place of Navarro and Mickeal and they both made good starts, as did Lorbeck. With both sides defending well, it was Ingles who marked the difference as Barça moved to a 10-6 lead on 4 minutes and a spectacular score from Jawai lifted the home crowd, who were enjoying a fluent start to the game, though Cajasol proved dominant in attacking rebounds and managed to draw level, 15-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Cajasol hit back

Although  Navarro and Mickeal were back on court, Barça Regal were finding it hard to control their interior game and put some distance between themselves and the visitors before a three pointer from Navarro – the first of the night for Barça-  and a 2+1 by Mickeal opened up a 24-17 lead on 14 minutes, which they stretched to 29-19. However, with Bogdanovic playing especially well, Cajasol hit back with a 13-point flurry which Barça couldn’t reply to and went in three up, 29-32, at the break.

Barça ease into the lead

Navarro and Tomic shook the game up after the break though and the team were soon back in charge, with a more intense interior attacking game – causing Aito to call a time out with the scores at 38-37 on 13 minutes. With their defence suffocating the Cajasol attack, Barça Regal now eased ahead with Navarro pulling the strings and led 48-37 on 27 minutes.

Both sides closed the quarter with baskets and went into the final quarter on 55-45 with everything still to play for.

Strength in depth

Sada and Marcelinho proved decisive in the final quarter as Barça raced to a 75-56 lead with four minutes left to play. Cajasol’s resistance couldn’t withstand the reigning champions’ strength in depth and the hosts ended the night with a comfortable and well deserved win.