Barça avenged the defeat suffered in Badalona in November with a resounding victory this Saturday at the Palau Blaugrana against Joventut (87-71) which places the Catalans as sole leaders of the Endesa League awaiting Real's matches Madrid and Baskonia on matchday 24.
Sarunas Jasikevicius's pupils achieved a first lead of ten points in the opening quarter (18-8) that was counteracted by the green-and-blacks in the second period (26-26), thanks, in part, to the success of Parra, Feliz and Tomic , always reliable in the area. But a new arreón, commanded by a Sanli who added six points with a 2 1 and a triple, returned control to the blaugrana before the break (39-30), who no longer left it.
The Barcelona fans continued to increase their lead in the third quarter thanks to an inspired Mirotic, author of three baskets in a row, and a Satoransky who scored two triples. The timeout requested by the Penya coach, Carles Durán, including a rebuke to his players, did not prevent the difference from continuing to grow to a maximum of 19 points in the final match.
The match entered into an exchange of baskets that only stopped with the referee's decisions. Two technical fouls, one for each side, were the prelude to an unsportsmanlike foul on Tobey that ignited the spirits in the stands and gave hope to a Joventut side who dreamed of making the kill after a three-pointer from Guy (72-60). However, once again Sanli, with a triple, and Satoransky, with a dunk, closed the game with six minutes remaining. The last minutes, with the Catalan derby par excellence already decided, only served for the Culé parish to celebrate the victory and increase the anger on the visiting side.
"They have shown an aggressiveness and tension from the third quarter that we have not had," lamented his players after the game Durán, who will have to recover the morale of the team ahead of next Wednesday's game at home against Lietkabelis de la eurocup. Barça, on the other hand, will face their Euroleague match at the Partizan court on Thursday with good feelings.
For their part, Baxi Manresa achieved a crucial victory in Fontajau against Girona (79-86) that allows Pedro Martínez's team to place themselves with a margin victory over relegation. Robinson and Dani Pérez were the best of a team from Manresa that handcuffed the locals from start to finish with great defense and command of the rebound.
Barça (18 21 28 20): Satoransky (19), Laprovittola (5), Abrines (7), Mirotic (10), Sanli (16) -initial team-, Paulí (2), Vesely (4), Kalinic (5 ), Higgins (5), Tobey (7), Jokubaitis (6) and Nnaji (1).
Joventut Badalona (13 17 19 20): Vives (2), Guy (13), Parra (9), Brodziansky (7), Tomic (11) -initial team-, Kraag (4), Busquets (-), Ribas ( 4), Okeke (-), Ventura (-), Happy (15) and Birgander (6).
Referees: Jordi Aliaga, Francisco Araña and Vicente Martínez. No deleted.
Incidents: match of the twenty-fourth day of the Endesa League played at the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona in front of 7,215 spectators.
