BarcelonaValencia Basket exposed the shortcomings of a Barça that will have to play the quarterfinals with home-court advantage against them (77-102). The Catalan team suffered a very painful defeat, bleeding at times, both in form and consequences. The Palau Blaugrana used whistles and some handkerchiefs to criticize the apathy of some players.
Days after announcing he will leave at the end of the season, Xavi Pascual was received with applause. “One of the dreams of my life was to be Barça’s coach and I have fulfilled it twice. This is my home, my people and it will always be so,” he said. The Palau Blaugrana also honored Jan Vesely, who will retire at the end of this campaign.
Despite the return of Tomás Satoransky and Will Clyburn, Barça struggled against Valencia Basket, who ended the first period with a 14-point lead (14-28). The visitors dominated the rhythm and the rebound. The difference grew to 19 points by halftime (27-46), at which point whistles could be heard at the Palau Blaugrana to criticize the apathy of some players.
Barça clung to Toko Shengelia’s character to try not to fall behind in the game, but the blaugrana team reached the last ten minutes with a 22-point deficit (53-75). The Catalan team tried to make the score look better during the final period, in which the visiting team stopped pressing the accelerator. Not even then. Many fans left their seats early. “We played very badly, there are no excuses,” lamented Xavi Pascual.
The quarter-finals start on Tuesday
The play-offs for the title kick off on Tuesday, when Barça will have to play on UCAM Murcia’s court. Asisa Joventut, for its part, will start the quarterfinals on Wednesday playing against Kosner Baskonia. Both Catalan teams will have the home court disadvantage.
