Fourteen years later and after signing a legendary career, Marc Gasol returned yesterday with Bàsquet Girona to the Palau Blaugrana, his home in his first years as a professional, between 2003 and 2006. The veteran pivot, applauded by his fans , added 9 points that did not serve to avoid the defeat of his team against a Barça (72-69) that remains tied on wins with Lenovo Tenerife at the top of the Endesa League.
It was also the return to the Barça park of Pierre Oriola, Barcelona captain until a few months ago and honored before the game, who in turn made his debut with the Girona team. Aíto García Reneses's pupils, who had just achieved their first two victories in the ACB, surprised Barça from the start and came to enjoy an eight-point lead (9-17).
A timeout by Jasikevicius changed the dynamics of the match, from that moment the Blaugrana dominated both in defense and attack. After missing their first six shots from the 3-point range, the locals found success from the perimeter and relied on a great Oscar da Silva to reach the break with a comfortable lead (50-38).
After the restart, Barça was able to run and increased the lead (65-48), worse in the last quarter they speculated on the result until they even suffered for the victory. Despite the result, the visitors did not lower their arms and gradually reduced the disadvantage mounted on the backs of Gasol and Quino Colom, those in charge of giving birth to the Girona attacks.
On the opposite side, the azulgranas did not know how to close the bleeding and earned the umpteenth reprimand from their coach. A triple Quino Colom in the last minute allowed Girona to dream (69-66), but Higgins, with three free throws scored, sealed the victory.
Barça (23 27 15 7): Satoransky (3), Laprovittola (3), Paulí (2), Da Silva (16), Sanli (1) -initial team-, Vesely (14), Kalinic (6), Abrines ( 8), Higgins (13), Jokubaitis (4), Caicedo (-) and Nnaji (2).
Basketball Girona (19 19 12 19): Colom (13), Taylor (12), Vila (4), Prkacin (6), Gasol (9) -initial team-, Fjellerup (8), Figueras (9), Miletic ( 8), Oriola (-), Hanzlik (-), Garino (-) and Sorolla (-).
Referees: Emilio Pérez Pizarro, Javier Torres and Yasmina Alcaraz. Without eliminated.
Incidents: match of the seventh day of the Endesa League played at the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona before 6,927 spectators.
