By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It wasn’t easy for three quarters, however, Barcelona dominated in the end and got an easy road win in Berlin.
The final score was 99-85, with Jabari Parker scoring 21 points, Willy Hernangomez adding 15, and Tomas Satorasnky scoring nine points and dishing 12 assists.
Despite still missing Kevin Punter, the guests managed to do their job right and improved to a 15-13 record and a three-way tie with Partizan and Milan between the 8th and the 10th position of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings.
“Tough game. The season has been really hard for us, with all the injuries, ups and downs. We are fighting—we have four guys out, some young guys stepping in, and other challenges. We fought hard; in the first half, we did a good job but made mistakes and got tired in the end. We made some big plays on offense and defense, and that’s the way to play basketball,” Dario Brizuela said after the match.
ALBA remains last with a 4-23 record. Yanni Wetzell scored 15 points, but the big picture for the Germans remains disappointing.
Barcelona saved the best for last
ALBA managed to close the first period leading 20-18; however, Barcelona opened the second quarter with a 7-2 run and got the lead back (25-22).
ALBA wasn’t rattled and reacted, being up by five (34-29) with four minutes left in the second period, but Barcelona closed the first 20 minutes of action leading by two (41-39) thanks to two free throws by Youssoupha Fall who had in total 11 points in the first half.
At the end of the third period, Barcelona was still up by two (66-64), and finally, the game changed in the last quarter.
Thanks to a three by Dario Brizuela, Barcelona extended their lead to 10 for the first time (79-69) and then to 13 (86-73), with Joel Parra scoring and less than five minutes left.
ALBA couldn’t keep up, and the game was decided without thrills in the end.
“An important victory for us to improve our ranking in the EuroLeague. We played badly, especially on offense in the first half, with 11 turnovers. We didn’t play with patience and discipline and struggled to control the rhythm. When Alba plays at their pace, they are a very dangerous team. In the second half, we improved offensively, played with more discipline—committing only three turnovers—and had 16 assists. In the end, we deserved to win the game,” Barcelona’s head coach, Joan Penarroya, said at the postgame press conference.