Omnipotent Barcelona destroys Fenerbahçe Ülker

ISTANBUL

Barcelona's Joe Ingles (C) goes for basket during the Euroleague basketball match Fenerbahce vs Barcelona on February 21, 2013 at Ulker Sports Arena in Istanbul. AFP photo

Fenerbahçe Ülker was crushed at home 60-99 by omnipotent Barcelona Regal in a Euroleague Top 16 game. After its poor exhibition the Turkish side dropped to 2-6 in the Group F and saw its thin playoff hopes take a serious hit, while Barcelona improved to 7-1 and remained on top of the group.

Barcelona opened the gap in the first quarter and never looked back. A 0-9 run gave the Catalan side a 6-15 lead, but it was in the second quarter when things got out of control for Fenerbahçe. A second run of 0-10 for Barça broke the match and the staggering score at the end of first half, 19-50, left the Turkish supporters in disbelief. The second half was a mere formality for the Catalans, who did not let their rivals close the difference. In the fourth quarter Barcelona put the score to 41-82, doubling Fenerbahçe. The outcome was clear, but Barcelona kept rolling, staying just one point shy of a hundred-point game.

Pete Mickeal led the visitors with 17 points. Brazilian guard Marcelinho Huertas and Croatian center Ante Tomic netted 14 apiece for Barcelona.

Croatian forward Bojan Bogdanovic's 18 points and American guard Bo McCalebb's 17 points were not enough to keep Fenerbahçe in the game.

Fenerbahçe will need a victory when they meet Montepaschi Siena of Italy to keep their chances of reaching the playoff alive.