Labor Kutxa said goodbye last Thursday to the Euroleague with a victory against the undisputed leader. FC Barcelona, who had only lost one game during this phase against Emporio Armani Milan, couldn´t beat a solid Baskonia that surpassed them in all aspects of the game during the second part of the clash.
Although Xavi Pascual pupils started hot and got a wide advantage before half-time, Baskonia players didn´t stop working and after the break the reaction by Sergio Scariolo´s team took place. Guided by a huge Andrés Nocioni, they were able to manage the clock and kept cutting distances despite going 20 points down.
Andres Nocioni appeared, and once gain the Argentine inspired love to all European Basketball fans with his game, intensity and spark. During the first half, Chapu scored 5 points and although he tried hard, things wouldn´t come out his way. At the start of the third quarter Nocioni proved his character and got 32 points to finish with a total of 37 scored, 3 blocks, 3 rebounds and a game rating of 35.
With the figures he signed yesterday, he beat is personal Euroleague scoring record surpassing the 36 he got in Treviso. That day in December 2003 Chapu grabbed 15 rebounds and got a game rating of 48.
Laboral Kutxa worked hard in defence to not let FC Barcelona score easily. They managed to do it by endorsing big positive scoring partials which finally gave Baskonia the victory. Vitorians ripped a merit victory from the Palau since FC Barcelona had not slipped at home for the last 8 years.
Laboral Kutxa scored 62 points in the second half, setting a new record for scoring as visiting team at the Palau Blaugrana.
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