Higgins leads Barça to the semi-finals
A basket on the buzzer knocks down Gran Canaria with the final 2-0
MADRID, 29 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça reached the semifinals of the Endesa League on the fast track by signing the 2-0 in the ‘playoff’ against Gran Canaria this Sunday on Canarian soil, thanks to a winning basket by Cory Higgins at the buzzer (86-88) .
The American player, back in recent weeks after five months of injury, seems to regain his instincts in time to help Barça defend their title. One of the protagonists of the League last year, Higgins silenced the Gran Canaria Arena with a difficult basket in the last possession.
Sarunas Jasikevicius’ men suffered to contain the canaries, with the lead for many minutes, but they did not fail in a decisive match as the Lithuanian coach also claims his men. Thus, Barça will have more time to rest and prepare than its rival in the semifinals: Lenovo Tenerife or Joventut, to decide on Tuesday in the third game.
Mirotic (21 points and 9 rebounds) and Laprovittola (17) carried the weight of a Barça incapable of closing up defensively. With Sanli out due to his head injury in the first match, Khalifa Diop took over the paint for the hosts. ‘Saras’ managed to plug in his interiors, with Davies and Smits, in the second quarter.
Ennis led the Canaries ahead at halftime (46-41), but Mirotic’s moment came after the break. Barça worked but did not stop the rival attack, in tow of a ‘Granca’ who saw the third game more than possible with a 76-66 seven from the end. The Hispanic-Montenegrin and Laprovittola changed that panorama.
Porfirio Fisac’s men, with the decision not to score Ennis (26 points) until the last seconds -after Slaughter failed his attempts-, lost the rudder. Despite a three-pointer from Ennis, the match vanished against Gran Canaria due to Higgins’ suspension. Barça recovers an MVP to seek the final.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: GRAN CANARIA, 86 – BARÇA, 88. (46-41, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
GRAN CANARIA: Albicy (3), Slaughter (4), Brussino (5), Shurna (7) and K. Diop (15) –starting quintet–; Pustovyi (8), Balcerowski (4), Salvó (3), Ennis (26), Stevic (4), Chery (7).
BARÇA: Calathes (5), Laprovittola (17), Exum (4), Mirotic (21) and Smits (6) –initial quintet–; Higgins (12), Martínez (2), Davies (10), Kuric (-), Jokubaitis (7), Oriola (4).
–PARTIALS: 18-15, 28-26, 20-22, 20-25.
–REFEREES: Jiménez, Martínez and Mendoza. Eliminated for Shurna fouls.
–PAVILLION: Gran Canaria Arena.