Mickeal shines, Navarro reaches milestone, Regal rolls past Baskonia

FC Barcelona Regal sent a message that echoed all around Top 16 Group F by topping previously undefeated Caja Laboral Vitoria 79-90 in front of over 15,000 fans at Fernando Buesa Arena on Thursday. The two teams are now tie for second place in Group F, each with a 4-1 record and behind Montepaschi Siena at 4-0. Barcelona broke Vitoria's 17-game winning streak in both the Spanish League and the Euroleague. Pete Mickeal paced the winners with 23 points on 10-of-11 two-point shooting. Joe Ingles added 12 while Ante Tomic and Juan Carlos Navarro each had 11 for Barcelona. Navarro became the first player to reach 3,000 points in Euroleague history. Maciej Lampe led Vitoria with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Fernando San Emeterio added 14 and Nemanja Bjelica 11 for the hosts. Milko Bjelica and Lampe shined early and a layup by Andres Nocioni gave Vitoria a 19-11 margin. Ingles and Erazem Lorbek stepped up to keep Barcelona within 28-27 after 10 exciting minutes. Ingles remained on fire and got some help from Nate Jawai and Lorbek to keep Barcelona ahead, 47-50, at halftime. Tomic and an outstanding Mickeal fueled a 3-14 Barcelona run that allowed the guests to get a 13-point lead, 54-67, late in the third quarter. Vitoria managed to get within 70-71 on a layup by Nemanja Bjelica, but Mickeal led a 2-14 run that Victor Sada capped with a three-pointer, as Barcelona boosted its margin to 72-85 and never looked back. Spanish coaching legend Manel Comas was honored in a pre-game celebration and received a standing ovation that brought him to tears. Comas, who is battling cancer, led the then-called Taugres to its only European title, the 1996 Saporta Cup.