An ultra demanding Barça will defend the title against Real Madrid
Those of ‘Saras’ eliminate the Youth in another agonizing battle in the Olympic
MADRID, 10 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça got the ticket to the final of the Endesa League by completing their victory in the ‘playoff’ against Joventut with 3-1 this Friday at the Olímpic de Badalona, an agonizing 60-63 until the last second that quoted him with the real Madrid.
Those of Sarunas Jasikevicius assaulted their neighbor’s house again about 48 hours before, but this time the ‘Penya’ emptied even more, until it touched the chime. Nikola Mirotic (20 points, 7 rebounds) pulled the champion along with Cory Higgins to opt for the defense of the title, again against the whites, from this Monday the 13th.
Although it seemed difficult, the Olímpic raised the bet and this time put the reigning champion on the ropes. In the first half, those of ‘Saras’, with 2 of 16 in triples, with Sanli with a sprained ankle, survived with the defense, although ‘Penya’ was also better there. Duran’s team put all the meat on the grill, bit into each play and came to send 12 points (27-15).
Vives led that intensity of the locals, but neither did the culé team give away in a scoreboard that always moved with difficulty. Parra scored inside but the defenses closed so much that both teams looked for the triple route with a lousy success. Mirotic led that Barça statistic for the worse; 1 of 8 at the premises.
The pressure and wear and tear were noticeable, but Joventut grew in conviction with a serious second quarter. The rotation did not change the face of Barça and, with Sanli injured, the problems grew until those 12 points of rent for the ‘Penya’. The champion scored six points in the second quarter but was down just 9 at halftime.
The culé team began a timid recovery on the return to the Badalona parquet, it was really easy to improve, to quickly equalize that disadvantage on the back of Mirotic and Higgins. Sanli beat Tomic in the minutes he lasted on his return and the Hispanic Montenegrin equalized the score (34-34), while Joventut seemed to take a breather.
It was time for the chosen ones, with Higgins justifying his full entry into the rotation ahead of Exum. In addition to the American, in tune after his long injury, Laprovittola left his sparks, but the ‘Penya’ had not yet said the last word about him. Willis came back plugged in in the fourth quarter.
Tomic recovered his vital role under the rim and, although Barça won the rebound, the game was still in a handkerchief. Then came another hit on Mirotic’s table, with two triples in a row and a basket under the rim in the eternal connection with Calathes (46-54). It seemed the sentence, but Willis came up to leave a heart attack outcome with equality until the last second.
The rings became small again, with exchange at the hands of Tomic and Calathes. Joventut failed earlier in that final minute, forced to desperately search for the free kick and the quick basket. The ‘Penya’ touched the fifth match, while Real Madrid rubbed their hands well-rested with their 3-0 win over Bitci Baskonia. Barça struck a stone to opt for the second League with ‘Saras’.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: YOUTH, 60 – BARÇA, 63. (28-19, at the break).
–EQUIPMENT.
YOUTH: Feliz (-), Vives (4), Parra (8), Willis (14) and Tomic (15) –initial quintet–; Ribas (5), Busquets (-), Paul (-), Bassas (7), Ventura (2), Birgander (5).
BARÇA: Calathes (12), Higgins (13), Abrines (-), Mirotic (20) and Sanli (4) –initial quintet–; Laprovittola (7), Hayes (2), Martínez (-), Smits (-), Davies (5), Kuric (-).
–PARTIALS: 14-13, 14-6, 11-21, 21-23.
–REFEREES: García González, Conde and García. Eliminated by fouls Parra and Vives.
–PABELLÓN: Palau Municipal d’Esports de Badalona.