The ‘Penya’ returns the blow to Barça
Joventut ends Barça’s authority to equalize the series (1-1)
BARCELONA, 5 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Joventut defeated Barça (81-87) this Sunday to steal the home court factor from the azulgranas, who did not respond to a ‘Penya’ triggered in attack, a long-suffering victory that puts the 1-1 in the semifinal series of the ‘Playoff ‘ of the Endesa League.
Both teams offered a recital of rhythm, intensity, high-class basketball and, above all, scoring in the first half. On the other hand, Barça lost ‘bellows’ in the second section, unlike its rival, who subdued the locals with a hit from the outside line.
The scoring was opened by Sertac Sanli, who briefly resumed his leadership where he left off last Friday, with a triple that lifted the Palau. But ‘Penya’ quickly forgot the bad dream of the first duel and abused in the first quarter of the paint with comfortable annotations, which unhinged ‘Saras’. Carles Duran’s team enjoyed minutes of advantage in the match, for the first time in the tie, although the initial joy was temporary.
In the blink of an eye, the ‘culé’ team overcame from the three-point line with a three-point festival by Álex Abrines and Ante Exum, but the ‘black and whites’ this time did not succumb to their dominance and finished the first set in a draw (27- 27).
Barça came out very strong in the second quarter and imposed a march that Joventut could not follow, with a 7-0 run. However, the “green and black” closed the gap thanks to an unstoppable Feliz. Along with him, the emergence of Bassas with two triples in a row gave them wings to take the reins of the first half by the minimum (40-42).
Joventut knocked out the ‘Saras’ men in the third quarter and made it 46-59 from which the current champion of the Endesa League was unable to recover. With their advantage, the team from Badalona finished off the ‘culés’ losses and led the outside battle, with good judgment in their three-point strikes, with 6 of 10 in triples.
Against the scoreboard and the clock, Barça attempted the heroic in the last quarter with 10 down, but Tomic (24 points), Feliz (12), Bassas (13), and a Parra (10) devoted to defensive tasks were the arguments visitors to weather the storm.
The bad news for Carles Duran was the possible injury of the Dominican point guard, who left the match helped by his teammates after spraining his ankle. Thus, Joventut tied the series (1-1) to reach the Olímpic with options in front of their fans next Wednesday.
DATASHEET.
–RESULTADO: BARÇA, 81 – JOVENTUT, 87. (40-42, at the break).
–EQUIPMENT.
BARÇA: Calathes (15), Laprovittola (9), Hayes (10), Mirotic (11) and Sanli (8) –initial quintet–; Abrines (11), Martínez (-), Smits (-), Davies (-), Exum (12) Kuric (-), Jokubaitis (5).
JOVENTUT: Happy (12), Ribas (6), Parra (10), Willis (7) and Birgander (6) –initial quintet–; Busquets (-), Paul (-), Bassas (13), Ventura (3), Vives (6), Tomic (24), Maronka (-), Brodziansky (-).
–PARTIALS: 26-27, 14-15, 13-23, 28-22.
–REFEREES: Maskoliunas, Orellana, Garcia. Fouled out Vives.
–PAVILLION: Palau Blaugrana (5,768 spectators).