By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
Barça has accomplished its mission quickly and with a double reward. The Blaugrana defeated La Laguna Tenerife 76-85 to sweep the semifinal series 3-0, securing their place in the final against the winner of Valencia Basket vs. Asisa Joventut and also qualifying them for the 2026 Super Cup.
Will Clyburn, with 19 points and two three-pointers when the pressure was at its highest, was the game’s top scorer. Kevin Punter finished with 17 points before being ejected for foul trouble.
Marcelinho Huertas (17 points) and Kevin Yebo (16 points) gave the home team hope, but they sorely missed Patty Mills, who finished with just 2 points.
Once again, Barça’s victory was hard-fought, but unlike the first two games, it was the Aurinegros who started strong. After a 19-19 tie in the first quarter, Txus Vidorreta’s team completely took control of the game in the second, building a significant lead, such as 40-26.
Starting the second half with a 42-34 lead was practically good news for Barça, who came out much stronger after the break, thanks in part to a surprise addition. Despite limited playing time in the playoffs, Willy Hernangómez played some remarkable minutes, crucial in helping Barça turn the game around (44-45).
After this game reset, Barça enjoyed a much-improved performance on the court, which translated into a substantial lead in the final quarter. However much La Laguna Tenerife tried to cheer on their fans, who didn’t want to see the season end today, the 68-78 score achieved by Xavi Pascual’s team was a very comfortable cushion, allowing Barça to close the game without too many problems.
Liga Endesa Playoffs
Quarterfinals
- Real Madrid 1 – 2 La Laguna Tenerife (97-98), (83-118), (95-107)
- Valencia Basket 2 – 0 Surne Bilbao (83-80), (71-88)
- Kosner Baskonia 1 – 2 Asisa Joventut (85-71), (63-82), (88-96)
- UCAM Murcia 1 – 2 Barça (68-91), (87-90), (76-100)
Semifinals
- Barça 3 – 0 La Laguna Tenerife (100-67, 97-89, 85-76)
- Valencia Basket 2 – 0 Asisa Joventut (118-117, 90-76)
Photo credit: ACB
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