Jokubaitis leads Barça in an agonizing victory against the champion

Stuck in a pothole of games and results, the Barca did a real survival exercise against the European champion, the Efes, whom he overcame in an agonizing match at the Palau. The leadership of Jokubaitis, author of 16 points and the decisive basket, served to make a difference against the Turkish side. The 21-year-old Lithuanian point guard, well backed by the experience of Mirotic and Sanli, he helped the azulgranas to cut their losing streak.

“This victory was very important for us, although it was not brilliant. But now it’s about fighting and believing & rdquor ;, he admitted Jokubaitis.

Sarunas Jasikevicius leaving the Palau completely on fire. Celebrating with his team a victory against the champion.

Sarunas is pure feeling ??@FCBbasket #EuroleagueDAZN ? pic.twitter.com/x2aqMSrsB2

— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) January 13, 2022

These are not easy days for him. Barca in his eagerness to recover the level that has led him, in this first third of the season, to lead the Euroleague. They are not and in view of what awaits him in the immediate calendar (visit to the Valencia on Sunday, in the League, at Uniques Kazan on 20th in the Euroleague and Madrid on the 23rd also in the ACB) the Barça fans will have to arm themselves with patience in the coming days. These are pick and shovel times more than flourishes.

The desire in the players to Jasikevicius It is obvious. But between his desire and reality, a notable margin has opened up in recent weeks for which he bleeds to death. The casualties and the positives have broken the rhythm of the well-oiled Barcelona machine and it is costing it to get back on track no matter how much it incorporates, little by little, all its pieces.

A 2+1 THAT IS WORTH A VICTORY AGAINST THE CHAMPION, THE EFES OF ATAMAN! ? A basket against the 20/21 Euroleague MVP, Micic, to drive the Palau crazy! ?

This Jokubaitis is not only two points… It is a declaration of intentions of the @FCBbasket! #EuroleagueDAZN ? pic.twitter.com/BLZjZRk0tb

— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) January 13, 2022

If on Tuesday they were Brandon Davis Y Sergi Martinez those who joined the group, in front of the Turkish box was Dante Exum, although that does not prevent the team from continuing to show a certain thickness in attack and lacking the consistency of the first months in defense, making mistakes and losses and giving up in the battle for the rebound, reasons why they have already escaped three defeats consecutive. the slump of Higgins and the one of Davis, essential in Jasikevicius’s schemes, is what is most accused. The performance of both is several steps below what is expected, although against Efes they offered some improvement.

Ataman’s Expulsion

Errors in the Euroleague are penalized on a regular basis. But much more in front of a rival like the Efes, current European champion, who has numerous alternatives to hit, especially Larkin and Micic, two always clear referents in the Turkish team, but also of Bryant Dunston, the player who changed the script in the first half in favor of the team hetman with his offensive success and, above all, with his command of the rebound. Both the American center and james anderson they caused a lot of problems in the fight under the net and left Efes ahead after the first half (40-41).

??? @Brandon_Davies0 pic.twitter.com/pSBrjU32wP

– Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) January 13, 2022

Barça seemed to find the way around the locker room with three chained triples from Sanli, Laprovittola and Kuric, which opened a clear first gap (49-41). It seemed that everything got even more expensive when hetman He received two technical fouls for protesting (it is not the first time for the coach, it already happened in the first leg), with 13 minutes to go.

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But the exclusion of the Turkish coach had the opposite effect. He did not get the Barcelona fans out of the thicket and, on the other hand, he freed the Efes players, especially Simon, as Larkin gave the impression of being physically touched, to leave an open script for the last quarter (61-56). That meant that the end was reached as if it were a marathon, with Barça at the limit of their strength, given over to the inspiration of Jokubaitis and the Turkish team looking for Micic and Singleton, although that was not enough to materialize the surprise.