The Palau had to multiply due to the massive presence of Serbian fans and Barça returned the favor, signing a victory as magnificent as it was necessary to hold on to the valuable second place in the Euroleague five days before the playoffs are drawn. The atmosphere was wonderful and the solidity shown by the Grimau team was sensational, forced to win the game several times but at no time did they falter.
And it was difficult for Barça to enter the game, initially ineffective in attack against the aggressive defense of the Obradovic school that anticipated an eternal game. But at the wake-up call from Kaminsky (9-16, m6) Jokubaitis took over and began to fuel Grimau’s men. It was Jabari Parker who sealed the first Barça advantage of the night with a two plus one (19-18, m8) but it was the Lithuanian who gave him the signature, at the first horn, a few good minutes behind Barça (29- 24).
Among the many positive readings in Barça’s key that were felt, Ricky Rubio stands out as more comfortable than ever on the Palau parquet, confirming that his integration is going for the best of paths.
Barça’s acceleration continued for a few more minutes, with Willy Hernangómez’s 37-28 scoreline as the climax. But from the opening stages Avramovic had shown that he was having one of those nights, and to the sound that the former Estudiantes player played, Partizan scored 1-10 to restore equality on the scoreboard. Every attempt by the sniper Laprovittola (5/8 in triples) to stretch again was answered by the Serbian (19p at halftime), signaling the way to the locker room at 51-48.
The Barça team started the second half like a shot and stretched again to 67-52 (m25) after a three-pointer from the most inspired Jokubaitis of the season. But, once again, Partizan, with the play-in at stake, rose from the canvas and did not give in. The Serbians’ ability to survive is commendable. But Barça proved to be in great shape, physically and mentally, and held on to victory in the last ten minutes. A final act that began with Leday scoring 74-70 and continued with a 10-0 by the Blaugrana that ended up defeating the Serbs. Jokubaitis, of course, scored the maximum of the night (94-76) moments before the end, in the middle of a celebration for a Palau that tomorrow, for sure, will suffer from hoarseness.
94. Barça (29 22 23 20): Satoransky (7), Laprovittola (17), Kalinic (9), Parker (12), Vesely (8) -starting team-, Jokubaitis (13), Hernangómez (15), Rubio (7), Abrines (6) and Da Silva (0).
76. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrado (24 23 20 8): Punter (6), Avramovic (27), Ponitka (-), LeDay (16), Kaminsky (6) -equipo inicial-, Dozier (4), Caboclo (3), Nunnally (7), Smailagic (4), Andjusic (3) y Trifunovic (0).
Referees: Olegs Latisevs (LET), Piotr Pastusiak (POL) and Arturas Sukys (LIT). They eliminated the local Hernangómez with five fouls (min.36).
Incidents: matchday 29 of the Euroleague played at the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona before 7,047 spectators.
