By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Laboral Kutxa took a decisive step not only for the qualification to the best eight teams of Europe, but also for having the valuable home court advantage during the playoffs. The Basques made it 2/2 against Barcelona in this season’s Euroleague after beating the Catalans 75 – 71 in Vitoria.
Another day in the job of being the “MVP” for his team, by Giannis Bourousis who finished the game with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, while significantly disturbing the low post activity of Ante Tomic and Joey Dorsey. Mike James was a worthy comrade, scoring 14 points and dishing 5 assists, while Adam Hanga added 11 points and 7 rebounds, plus some immense defensive helps.
Apart from Tomas Satoransky (2o points, 6 assists) and Alex Abrines (18 points) Xavi Pascual did not find many solutions to other players of his roster who lost way too many three-pointers in a really mediocre night, especially on the offensive end. The 6/20 with which Barcelona shot from behind the arc is an extremely negative number, particularly for a team which is heavily depended on its perimeter shooting.
Nevertheless, despite the fact that Laboral Kutxa was in control of the match for the majority of the second half and ahead of score 63 – 53 with seven minutes to go, Barcelona rallied its forces to make one strong comeback. The guests tied the score by dropping 12 points in very short period of time during the last quarter and receiving only two, making it 65 – 65, four minutes before the end of the game.
But then, Jaka Blazic and Kim Tillie emerged to wear the cape of the “x factor” for Baskonia. They were combined for 10 crucial points in the last 3 minutes, which created the necessary edge that drove Baskonia to victory, while, in total contrast to its previous games, Barcelona failed to rise up to the occasion in the “clutch” moments of the match.