By Alex Molina/ amolina@eurohoops.net
After the disappointment in Monaco, Barça faced a new Liga Endesa clash that could not have gone better for the blaugranas.
The game against Surne Bilbao ended with a 90-61, a score that perfectly reflects what was seen on the court and that, logically, allowed Xavi Pascual to rotate the squad ahead of the crucial match against Bayern Munich, which will decide the blaugranas’ future.
Youssoupha Fall delivered one of his best performances with Barça, scoring 17 points to become the team’s top scorer. Joel Parra, with 16, also had a standout contribution.
Krampelj was one of the few positives for Bilbao, putting up 16 points.
However, the main protagonist of the game was Juan Núñez, who returned to play at the Palau Blaugrana more than a year later.
Aware that it was no time for a hesitant start, the home side came out all guns blazing and closed the first quarter with a 21–7 run, a clear statement of intent.
As the minutes went by, the home team only extended their lead, going into halftime ahead by more than 20 points (41–23).
After the break, Barça’s role players continued to make the most of their opportunities and pushed the lead to +25 at 63–38, effectively extinguishing the visitors’ very faint hopes.
In the final quarter, the blaugrana dominance translated into a 30-point lead (74–44), turning the remaining minutes into a celebration enjoyed by the young fans filling the stands of the Palau Blaugrana.