ESP – Barcelona annihilate Real Madrid in Copa Final

BILBAO (Copa del Rey) - Regal Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Final on Sunday to claim their second big honor this season in Spanish basketball.

Boasting maybe the deepest and most talented squad in all of Europe, Barca followed up close encounters against Cajasol Sevilla and Power Electronics Valencia by destroying Madrid, 80-61.

Madrid were unrecognizable from the team that won against DKV Joventut and Caja Laboral earlier in the event.

Barcelona out-rebounded them 33-25 and hounded them on defense from start to finish.

Fran Vazquez, who dunked his way to 16 points in Saturday's win over Valencia and poured in a team-high 14 on Sunday against Madrid, was voted MVP of the event although such was the balance in the Spanish squad that Ricky Rubio also received strong consideration for the honor.

"We played a great game, very serious on defense," Vazquez said.

"Things go better when the defense plays well. We are a very unified team and the key is defense.

"I am surprised to be named MVP but it's not just down to me but to the rest of the players."

"I am happy that Fran has been the MVP, but I am also pleased by the difficulties encountered by the media to elect our outstanding player," Barcelona coach Xavier Pascual said. "That speaks highly of the team."

Barcelona now have 21 Copa del Rey wins to Real Madrid’s 22.

Juan Carlos Navarro has won numerous titles and medals during his career and he was all smiles after Sunday's triumph.

"It's a special trophy because it gets harder and harder (to win)," he said.

Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa back in October.

"We have won every title this season and we have to keep it up," Vazquez said, before adding, "I have won all of the Copa del Rey finals I have played."

Rubio and Erazem Lorbek, who will represent Spain and Slovenia, respectively, at the FIBA World Championship this year, each had 13 points.

King Juan Carlos presented the trophy to Barcelona captain Roger Grimau and he raised it in the air for all to see before talking about the occasion.

"It's been a dream final, a great final," he said.

"We managed to break the game and keep it up until the end.

"We dedicate this title to our finals."

Ettore Messina praised Barcelona for their total domination and admitted no positives could be drawn from Sunday's setback for Real.

He did say that his players and the Madrid fans should remember the wins over DKV and Caja Laboral.

"You have to react after this game angrily and aggressively because Thursday (Euroleague) is a very important game," he said.

This week in the Euroleague, Madrid host Montepaschi Siena while Barcelona travel to Athens to face Panathinaikos.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA