El Barça fulfills in their visit to ALBA Berlin
From less to more, Peñarroya’s team defeated the bottom team to allow themselves to look towards the ‘Top 6’ of the Euroleague
Barça won (85-99) on Friday against ALBA Berlin in matchday 28 of the Euroleague, a necessary triumph for confidence and the Blaugrana’s path in search of the playoffs, gradually improving to end up winning comfortably in the final quarter.
Joan Peñarroya’s men fulfilled their duty against the bottom team, who fought until Barça finally flexed their muscles to achieve their fifteenth victory, firmly in the ‘Top 10’ aiming for direct qualification to the quarter-finals among the top six.
Jabari Parker (21 points) ended as the top scorer, a shining example of Barça’s improvement in the second half, especially in terms of accuracy. Also key were Youssoupha Fall, Darío Brizuela, Chimezie Metu, and Tomas Satoransky, who had to contend with ALBA’s good direction in front of their home crowd.
Israel González’s team, who managed to beat the Catalans last year, kept pace for three quarters thanks to the excellent performances of Martin Hermannsson and Matteo Spagnolo. Barça started off hurriedly, with many turnovers that persisted until halftime, struggling to find a good rotation until some inspiration from ‘Sato’, Brizuela, and Fall before heading to the locker room.
The three-pointers from the Spanish international and Dame Sarr did not faze ALBA, who displayed their usual lack of accuracy from beyond the arc. The rebounding difference started to become significant (28-45 at the end of the game), but Barça seemed unable to finish the job, not even in the third quarter with Parker. ALBA managed to equalize the score at 65-65.
In the final quarter, the artillery led by Satoransky broke down the German resistance. Metu and Willy Hernangomez, once again playing a prominent role on a court where he was the MVP of the last Eurobasket, opened up a gap and Barça enjoyed a peaceful ending to regain their form after the Copa del Rey and the Clásico.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–RESULT: ALBA Berlin 85 – Barça 99. (39-41, at halftime).
–TEAMS.
ALBA Berlin: Procida (8), McDowell-White (4), Thomas (12), Bean (5), McCormack (5) –starting five–; Spagnolo (8), Delow (2), Hermannsson (9), Baker II (4), Wetzell (15), Olinde (2), Rapieque (5).
Barça: Satoransky (9), Abrines (-), Anderson (5), Parker (21), Fall (13) –starting five–; Villar, Brizuela (13), Sarr (3), Parra (9), Metu (11), Hernangomez (15).
–QUARTERS: 20-18, 19-23, 25-25, 21-33.
–REFEREES: Paternico, Foufis, and Trawicki. No players eliminated.
–VENUE: Uber Arena.