A solid Barça regains control of the semifinal at Olímpic

Barça always remained in command of the scoreboard, with gains of up to 10 points, despite Joventut’s efforts until the final moments (77-83)

Mirotic (18 points) led a Barça whose pulse did not shake despite the pressure from the Olímpic

Barça took the victory of the Olímpic de Badalona (77-83) and regained control of the semi-final (1-2) in a very serious duel for the azulgranas who always had control of the game despite black-and-green attempts to get into the game, with points from Willis (17) and a great AnteTomic (21).

Now, the azulgranas, led by Mirotic (18 points and 7 rebounds), they can settle the tie this Friday in the fourth game also at the Olímpic. The task of Carles Duran’s team will be to achieve a victory that extends the series until the fifth and final match, although at the Palau.

Barça started very serious and focused, taking control of the game with a successful Davies who wanted to erase his bad game at the Palau (0-6). A triple by Hayes allowed Jasikevicius’s men to dominate the scoreboard and the game (2-9).

Irregular black-green start

La Penya, too excited with a complete Olímpic, did not get good shots despite the fact that Ribas tried to shoot his. Carousel of changes with Saras moving the whole team and the azulgranas remained firm after a triple by Laprovittola (9-19). With control of the rebound and the rhythm of the game, Barça finished off a good start to the game (14-23).

The Joventut he came out more energetic in the second, with Ribas and Vives increasing the pace of the game, while trying to stifle the azulgrana attack (19-23). The black-and-white approached three with Tomic’s awakening (25-28), but Barça, this time, did not lower their guard.

The best news, a three-pointer from Kuric that ended his long drought in the shootout followed by another from Mirotic. Barça responded well to the aggressive verdinegro game and Mirotic led again with another triple (31-39).

Higgins reassures Barça

Along with the Montenegrin, Higgins offered his best minutes and extended the lead to 10 points (34-44) which was maintained until the break (36-46). Barça controlled the game on the rebound (19/12) and with greater success in shooting (19 of 32).

after the break, the party lost offensive brilliance to enter a guerrilla war based on fouls. The azulgrana came out worse off from the verdinegro stake, where Willis was the local man who best saw the opposite hoop (11 points).

A Tomic basket, doing damage again, approached the Penya to only three points (45-48). Although those of Jasikevicius kept calmand little by little, with actions by Higgins, MiIrotic and Laprovittola, with a triple, he was still in control at the end of the third quarter (56-61).

La Penya returns to the charge

La Penya returned to the charge with balls to Tomic, but Barça maintained the solidity of the first three quarters, and despite the arreones of Carles Duran, managed to maintain the lead of 10 (60-70) with 6:41 remaining. It was time to endure the last local pull.

Joventut tried again and got to five after Parra’s points (65-70). Barça didn’t get nervous, and a basket from Hayes and a triple from Mirotic opened the rent again to 10 (65-75). La Penya did not give up with another run of 5-0 (70-75) and got to three with a basket by Tomic (74-77).

With all the pressure from the Olímpic, the least expected actor, Nick Calathes nailed a triple that left the match decided in the final seconds (77-83). Barça regains control of the series (1-2) and can now sentence the series, also at the Olímpic.