By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A third win in a row for FC Barcelona in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Building a double-digit lead in the second quarter, the distance kept growing until settling in a 93-77 victory versus ALBA Berlin on Friday.
Slowing down the visitors after allowing 26 points in the first period with solid defense and preventing transition offense did the trick, combined with effective shooting.
Facing his former team, Oscar da Silva dropped a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, including seven offensive boards. Five steals and two assists added to a performance index rating of 22. “I am always extra motivated to play against these guys,” the 25-year-old Brazilian-German forward referred to his first EuroLeague side, “I was happy to give the team a little of juice today.”
A game-high PIR of 26 by Willy Hernangomez behind 18 points with 7/8 makes and six rebounds. “I am thankful to have this kind of teammates and coaches, to help to get better,” mentioned the 29-year-old Spanish center, “Hopefully, I will continue improving day by day and be better for the last part of the season.”
Eight players scored in the first quarter for the team guided by Roger Grimau and eventually 11 got on the board. Nicolas Laprovittola and Rokas Jokubaitis chipped in 13 apiece. “With our defense in the second and third quarter, we got a big lead in the game,” said the winning head coach, “In the end, I am happy with the win.”
An eighth consecutive home win opposite the Berlin outfit and 13th across 14 showings in Palau Blaugrana in the 2023-24 Regular Season powered an overall 18-8 record, second-best behind Real Madrid.
Added to the roster to potentially return to action, Ricky Rubio was out. Captain Alex Abrines (groin) went through light practice this week but remained sidelined. Cleared for action on Thursday, youngster Michael Caicedo (right foot surgery) was scratched as well.
The team coached by Spanish Israel Gonzalez fell to 5-21. The third loss in a row shaped a tie with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne at the bottom of the standings, heading to a three-week break in Europe’s premier club continental competition. A team-high 14 points by Tim Schneider stood out against the Catalonia powerhouse.
“I want to keep the level up for 40 minutes. Today we were up and down, up and down,” said Gonzalez on his side lacking consistency en route to a 12th loss in 13 away games in the continental campaign.
Out for nearly three months, Louis Olinde (head) started individual training. He was ruled out of the Round 26 contest alongside sharpshooter Sterling Brown (rest) and Slovenian Ziga Samar (foot). However, captain Johannes Thiemann (back) returned to action on his 30th birthday after missing two weeks and recorded eight points and four rebounds over 15 minutes.
Domestic cups
Defending the ACB championship, at 14-7 Barca is tied for third in the Liga Endesa standings, trailing leading Madrid by four games. Next on the schedule is BAXI Manresa on Sunday, in Round 22 of the Regular Season. Quarterfinals in the Copa del Rey pit the Catalonian clubs against each other in Malaga, next Friday.
Third in Germany’s easyCredit BBL behind an 11-5 record, the Albatrosse visit RASTA Vechta on Sunday and host BG Gottingen on Tuesday. Moving to the Final Four of BBL Pokal in Munich, they take on ratiopharm Ulm in the Semifinals next Saturday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net