Barcelona claims seventh win
Barcelona is sweeping all aside in the Euroleague Top 16 after the Spanish giant recorded an eighth consecutive Euroleague win on Thursday. The Catalan club defeated Laboral Kutxa Vitoria 68-80 on the road in an all-Spanish clash that once again showed that Barca is one of the teams to beat this season.
There is always a feeling with Barcelona that the club plays well through a competition but falls short at the end. Maybe this year it will be different as the club is the form team in the Euroleague Top 16 and has extended its lead at the top of Group E to 7-0, while its Top 16 winning streak now sits at 19 over two seasons. The team led throughout the contest to hand Laboral another defeat, with the team now languishing in last place with a dismal 1-6 record.
First quarter
The hosts got off to a solid start and held a lead through the opening minutes thanks to Andres Nocioni, Tibor Pleiss, and Fernando San Emeterio. However, Barcelona slowly started clicking and a layup from Kostas Papanikolaou resulted in a 9-11 lead midway through the first. Barcelona started carving an advantage with a typical two pointer from the impressive Marcelinho Huertas. With Juan Carlos Navarro once again pulling the strings the Spanish team secured a commanding 17-27 first quarter advantage.
Second quarter
Adam Hanga kept Vitoria in the game early in the second period with a triple and a single from free throws. The hosts then went on a 12-2 run that was capped with game being tied at 29 apiece after a score from downtown courtesy of San Emeterio. Barcelona had struggled without Ante Tomic on the floor but resumed scoring when he returned. However, Laboral Kutxa completed a stunning quarter only two points behind with the score reading 31-33 at halftime. In an astonishing 10 minutes the home team scored 14 points and restricted Barca to just 6.
Third quarter
The poor second quarter woke the visitors up, while Xavi Pascual´s halftime talk surely played a part in Barcelona´s renewed concentration in the third period. Erazem Lorbek, Brad Oleson, and Huertas gave the visitors a big advantage again, while the Catalan players pressed further to 41-53 after a Huertas triple from the arc corner. Vitoria managed to hold on at the end of 30 minutes thanks to Leo Mainoldi and Pleiss, but the home team still trailed by ten with score now reading 49-59.
Fourth quarter
San Emeterio dribbled through the Barca defense for a double to keep Vitoria in touch at the start of the final stanza, but Tomic hit a single free throw and an inside shot to keep Barca in charge. Navarro put the game beyond reasonable doubt when he nailed a catch and shoot score from downtown to make it a fourteen point game at 57-71. With the game all but won Barcelona closed out a routine final few minutes to extend its impressive Euroleague form.
It was a night of fine performances in the Barcelona roster as Tomic hit a Euroleague career high 24 points. He was helped by Huertas with 16 points, Juan Carlos Navarro with a vintage 15 point display, and Erazem Lorbek with 12.
San Emeterio grabbed a season high 22 points for the downed Vitoria, and Pleiss had a double-double 15 points and 10 rebounds.