Río Breogán, second to last in the table, surprised Barça at the Palau Blaugrana (85-88), in an extraordinary team match by Veljko Mrsic’s team, who were led by a brilliant Sergi García. The Mallorcan point guard led the game’s scoring with 23 points to which he added two rebounds and five assists for a rating of 28. It is the first victory in the history of the Galicians at the Palau after 23 consecutive defeats.
The Blaugrana, who had just won in the Euroleague against Partizan with a great game, never felt comfortable and were behind on the scoreboard for many minutes. Furthermore, they noticed excessively the absence of Laprovittola, Kalinic and Vesely, who rested. The Galicians surprised with great success from the perimeter in the first quarter, in which their lead went to six points (20-26), which was reduced to three (23-26).
Roger Grimau’s men did not know how to defend the outside shots of Sergi García and Momirov. Inside, Fernández resisted Willy Hernangómez well, but the entry of Ricky Rubio and Parker’s points brought Barça closer and closer on the scoreboard.
Five minutes before the break, Breogán dominated by six points (29-35), but Barça signed a partial 12-2 and went four points ahead (41-37), which were reduced to one (47-46) in the intermediate.
Equality was maintained in the third quarter, with a similar atmosphere. The Blaugrana escaped (65-60), but Breogán reacted, now with their star McLemore they offered the best sensations.
The Galicians were five down at the end of the third quarter and Barça increased their difference (74-67) at the beginning of the quarter. But then McLemore, García, also Nakic and Fernández appeared to return to the game.
Breogán achieved a partial 0-8 and it was 76-79, but everything was equal. First at 80 and then at 85. But a 2 1 by McLemore with 51 seconds left ended up deciding the match (85-88), in a final full of errors and that ended up confirming the surprise at the Palau.
85 – Barça (23 24 25 13): Ricky Rubio (5), Brizuela (13), Parra (3), Da Silva (11) and Hernángomez (20) -starting five-, Parker (13), Jokubaitis (9) , Abrines (9), Paulí (2) and Nnaji (-).
88 – Río Breogán (26 20 21 21): S. García (23), McLemore (18), Momirov (6), Nakic (11), Sakho (8) – initial five-, Polite (1), Fernández (13) ), Jogela (6), S. Quintela (2), E. Quintela (-).
Referees: García González, Oyón and Ríos. No eliminated.
5,386 spectators attended the match in the twenty-fifth matchday of the Endesa League, played at the Palau Blaugrana.
