ANDBarcelona recovered from the defeat suffered in Vitória by securing a difficult victory over Valencia Basket. It was a disputed, balanced and lackluster match, which also lasted well over two hours between countless referee reviews. The Azulgranas regain their sensations and the Taronjas close the double European journey with defeats against the Azulgranas and Real Madrid. They were close on both occasions and the results were similar, but in neither case did their effort allow them to reach the coast.
Vesely, with 17 points, was the best of the Blaugranas. The central defender marked territory from the start and only serious problems prevented him from improving his record. Abrines followed with 12 points, although he failed to shoot, like his entire team. Bara went into halftime with 1/15 on triples and finished with 5/30 after hitting some decisive shots in the final period.
Chris Jones (15 points) and Inglis (13) led the Taronjas, who also didn’t do well: 6/16 in triples and, what was most worrying in such a balanced duel, 10/17 in free throws. The lack of fluidity was evident in the eight assists he distributed.
The match had more equality than brilliance. Between Vesely and Willy they scored 14 of Bara’s first 25 points, which led by 11 points in the first quarter (24-13). It was the best of the entire game. From there, no one managed to escape. Inglis responded in the second period and Valença got one (29-28) after a 4-12 sequence. Satoransky helped his teammate and compatriot to leave the score at 37-33 at halftime. The advantage was slim: 1/15 in triples for Bara and 2/10 for Valencia.
In the second half, in a sign of equality, there were seven draws. The score was a balance between López-Arstegui, Satoransky, Inglis… The exchange of blows left the score at 54 to 52 before the last act. An 8-0 sequence with triples, finally, from Abrines and Kalinic could seal the score (68-60). Furthermore, Valencia lost Jovic, their brain, due to a sprained ankle. But the visitors resisted with a triple from Jones and two free throws from López Arstegui.
A dunk after an offensive rebound by Vesely opened another small gap (70-65). The procession to the personnel line began: three hits from Ojeleye, two from Abrines and two others, which closed the scoring for Laprovittola with seven seconds remaining. In between, a basket from Jones and a final error from López-Arstegui in search of a draw with a 3+1 that bordered on the impossible. Bara played a balanced, tough and eternal match. Valencia fought against the two big teams, but came away without a prize.
