By Alex Molina / amolina@eurohoops.net
As Xavi Pascual said, the game against ASVEL would be anything but easy.
And once again, the blaugrana head coach was more than right.
Despite what the final score might suggest, Barça got a very fought win against the French team by 88-78, a very much needed win in what was Xavi Pascual’s first game in Palau Blaugrana in almost a decade.
Kevin Punter was Barça’s top scorer with 23 points. Toko Shengelia (15 p.) and Dario Brizuela (15 p.) joined him in the two digit club, but it was Juani Marcos and Myles Cale who changed the mood of the game for the hosts.
Nando de Colo was -by far- the best player from ASVEL: 22 points, including a perfect 12/12 from the free throw line, and 6 assists.
Even though the French team is at the bottom of the standings, ASVEL came to Barcelona to fight, losing only by one point after the first quarter (20-19) and at halftime (45-44).
The break wasn’t good for the Catalan team, as they could do nothing but see how ASVEL got a nice lead (61-56) already on the third quarter.
But then, the role players appeared for the home team.
Juani Marcos and Myles Cale gave barça a boost of energy that was vital to turn the game around.
Entering the fourth quarter with a positive momentum was everything Barça needed, and the blaugrana team had no problem managing the lead until the buzzer.