By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
Xavi Pascual didn’t hide his disappointment after the heavy defeat suffered against Valencia Basket (77-102) at the Palau Blaugrana, a result that eliminated the Blaugrana team from contention for a top seed in the regular season. Adding to the bad news, the loss came with a dismal performance, so it’s no surprise that the coach described his team’s performance as their worst of the entire Liga Endesa season.
“It was, without a doubt, our worst game of the season in the ACB. We weren’t up to par and offered a very poor image in every aspect of the game. We made a fool of ourselves, awful in every part of the game. And it’s truly surprising, we had been on a good run, but today we were nonexistent. I can only say that it’s a game to forget,” Pascual lamented in the post-game press conference, visibly frustrated by his team’s performance.
The Catalan coach admitted that he struggled to find an explanation for what happened, especially considering the team’s positive momentum, having accumulated six consecutive victories before this match. However, Barça never found defensive solidity and ended up completely outplayed.
“The importance of the game was paramount, but instead of motivating us, it caused a complete mental block. These situations are difficult to understand. After 20 years on the sidelines, there are still days when unexpected things happen. What happened today is hard to explain,” he acknowledged.
The setback now forces the Blaugrana to face the playoffs without home-court advantage. Their opponent in the quarterfinals will be UCAM Murcia, a series that will begin in just two days and for which the team will have to recover quickly, especially psychologically.
“Now we must focus solely on what lies ahead. Every match will be crucial, and there is no room for error. The team has had a great second half of the season, with a record of 22 wins and 6 losses since this stage began, although it wasn’t enough to achieve our goal of being a top seed. It’s time to react,” he pointed out.
Pascual also took responsibility for the poor performance in front of the home fans, who expressed their displeasure with loud boos at the end of the match. “Today we deserve all the criticism in the world, all of us. We were awful, a match to forget. It’s always the same for us; as soon as things get a little complicated, we fall apart,” he asserted.
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