By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Following a warm welcome to Dario Brizuela, Unicaja finished the 2023 schedule in style.
Overcoming a sluggish start with a dominating display led to a 91-71 victory versus FC Barcelona.
Will Thomas piled up a game-high 16 points, including 11 points in the second quarter as momentum shifted in favor of the team guided by Ibon Navarro. Dylan Osetkowski chipped in 15 points with 5/8 field goals, including three triples in Round 16 of Spain’s Liga Endesa Regular Season. Jonathan Barreiro (left wrist surgery) remains out indefinitely.
Brizuela, 29, spent the last four years at the team based in Malaga, before switching to the Catalonia giant in July. The 2023 Copa del Rey winner with his previous club returning to Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena was met with the fans chanting his name during team introductions. He ended up with five points and two assists lasting 16 minutes in the losing effort.
Two days before visiting AS Monaco in Round 17 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, the defending ACB champions featured Jan Vesely and Joel Parra sharing a team-high 11 points. Alex Abrines (groin) and Michael Caicedo (right foot surgery) were unavailable, and Oriol Pauli did not play.
ACB Round 16
Unicaja – FC Barcelona 91-71
Casademont Zaragoza – MoraBanc Andorra (28/12)
Coviran Granada – Lenovo Tenerife (28/12)
BAXI Manresa – Joventut Badalona (29/12)
Monbus Obradoiro – UCAM Murcia (29/12)
Zunder Palencia – Surne Bilbao (30/12)
Dreamland Gran Canaria – Rio Breogan (30/12)
Girona – Baskonia (30/12)
Real Madrid – Valencia (31/12)
STANDINGS: Real Madrid 14-1, Unicaja 13-3, Valencia 10-5, Barcelona 10-6, Murcia 9-6, Gran Canaria 9-6…
Photo Credit: ACB.com