Barça - Fenerbahce Ülker: Impressive response (94-81)

Barça Regal bounced back from last weekend's defeat with a dominant victory over group leaders Fenerbahce Ülker, based on a formidable first quarter that saw them take a 20 point lead.

A briliant team performance proved enough to toppple the previously unbeaten Turks - despite a spirited McAlebb fight back - and give Barça the better basket average too.

20 points up in first quarter

With Marcelinho imposing pace into the game, Barça got off to a flying start, as Papanikolau and Navarro clocked up the points. Obradovic called a time out at 19-7, but Barça weren't going to slow down and on 8 minutes they were 26-12 up. Two scores in the dying seconds from  Lampe and Papanikolaou gave Barça a 35-15 lead over one of the most in-form teams on the European scene at the end of the first quarter.

McAlebb wakes up Fenerbahce

The visitors were unable to cut down the distance at the start of the second quarter and on the quarter hour Barça were still 20 points up (42-22). It was then that Fenerbahce finally woke up, with McAlebb leading the charge, as Barça tired a little from their first quarter exploits and by half time they had cut the hosts' lead to eight points (52-40)

Game evens out

Barça had lost some fluency in their game as Fenerbahce upped their aggression and intensity, but they held on with a series of three pointers, as the Turks closed in to 59-55 on 25 minutes. Navarro, Papanikolaou and especially Nachbar now took charge of the team and by the end of the third quarter they were 74-62 ahead.

Basket average secured

Fenerbahce had used just six players and with Barça rotating their bench sensibly, they were the fresher in the final quarter as they continued to edge further ahead  (85-73, min 36).

A specatcular basket from Papanikolaoau put the result out of the Turks' reach and although they hit back with three three pointers, it was Barça who came away with the better basket average and a result and a performance that will echo round teh European game.