The perfect start at home. Barça came back from 15 points down to beat Anadolu Efes 89-82 in their first EuroLeague game and first outing at the Palau Blaugrana this season. They showed plenty of character, with 20 points from Brizuela and 19 from Punter, while Umude, Gibson and Balcerowski all made important contributions to secure the first European win of the Sekulic era.
A start to forget
A mosaic, the anthem sung by the crowd and a series of commemorative events marked the start of the Centenary season, but things did not initially go to plan for a packed Palau. With the score at 4-4, Barça suddenly went cold and Efes produced a 15-0 run.
And with Nebo, Makoundou and Evbuomwan all missing from the frontcourt, the circumstances were far from ideal. But a Parra three-pointer got Barça moving, Robinson followed from beyond the arc and the deficit was down to nine by the end of the first quarter (16-25).
Brizuela and Punter lead the fightback
Barça really came alive in the second period, with Darío Brizuela and Kevin Punter leading the fightback. Gibson‘s energy also helped bring the blaugranes back into contention, before a Brizuela three capped a 10-0 run to make it 34-36.
Then came two spectacular triples from an inspired Brizuela, completing the comeback from 15 points down and sending Barça into the break ahead (45-44).
The game remained tight throughout the third quarter. Sekulic rewarded Minaya‘s defensive work with a place in the starting five after the break, while former NBA man Dario Saric helped Efes resist Barça’s momentum. The visitors went into the final period with a four-point lead (63-67).
Defence is the key
Barça stepped up defensively in the fourth, with Balcerowski protecting the paint and the Palau getting increasingly involved. With four minutes remaining, the home side finally regained the lead (74-73).
Tyrese Martin hit an important three before Punter took control, scoring and drawing fouls at crucial moments. Olek Balcerowski also emerged as an unlikely hero, forcing a backcourt violation before finishing Parra’s alley-oop to make it 83-80.
Mike James then missed one of three free throws before Justin Robinson buried a huge three for 86-82. Another Efes turnover and three Barça free throws completed a superb comeback and an 89-82 victory.
A memorable start to the Centenary season at the Palau, and Barça’s first European win of the campaign.
MATCH STATS
Barça: 89
Anadolu Efes: 82
Barça: Robinson (10), Punter (19), Umude (7), Parra (5), Balcerowski (10), Gibson (10), Martin (3), Brizuela (20), Ubal (-), Nkamhoua (2), Núñez (-), Minaya (3).
Anadolu Efes: Strazel (12), James (22), Malcolm (5), Saric (17), Fernando (6), Loyd (2), Yusta (4), Russell (3), Dozier (3), Osmani (6), Yilmaz (-), Jones (2).
Periods: 16-25, 29-19, 18-23, 26-15.
Referees: Sasa Pukl, Maxime Boubert, Ioannis Tiganis.
