By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona controlled most of the game, but Dubai fought back and the match went down to the wire.
In the end, Dario Brizuela scored the decisive points with two seconds left, giving Xavi Pascual’s team an important victory.
“The crowd was once again the key to the game. We played better than the eight-point lead we had after 30 minutes. In the last quarter we made mistakes that punished us, and the game changed dramatically. This is a very important win for us,” Pascual said after the match.
This was Barcelona’s 21st win in their last 25 games.
“A very good number. We were much better than last week. They have an extraordinary level. I want to think that in the last quarter we dropped off because of fatigue after all these days, the accumulation of wear and tear. When your physical level drops, it shows.”
Pascual also commented on Brizuela, who scored the winning basket and led Barcelona with 25 points.
“Brizuela has everything to be decisive; he has a lot of quality and can do everything well. I don’t want him to be a spark off the bench—I want him to be consistent. We talked before the game; he is very important for the way I understand the game, and he fulfills everything I need from that position.”
Kevin Punter also played a big role for the Catalan team against Dubai, scoring 20 points after struggling in a couple of previous matches.
“He is our Kevin. He had a bad week, but we are with him; he is not a machine. He struggled to get into the game because of what he was carrying, but then he flowed. Every day he will be a better player, and every day he is improving,” Xavi Pascual concluded.