Barça knocks out 'Penya' first

Barça knocks out 'Penya' first

The champion sings with the start of the semifinal

MADRID, 3 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Barça struck down Joventut (89-72) this Friday at the start of the Endesa League semifinal playoff, a resounding victory at the Palau Blaugrana that the Badalona team will have to quickly forget to cling to their options of giving the surprise.

The defending champion entered the semifinals on the right foot, the best of five games, against a 'Penya' who returned to this round 14 years later. Between the second and third quarters, Barça left Joventut with no options and they will have to use much more defense and accuracy on Sunday to avoid a dangerous 2-0 draw.

The culé team took the reins in the first half, with good defense, superiority in rebounding (22-13; 43-26, at the end of the game) and three hits in the second quarter. Those of 'Saras' went 40-31 at the break led by Sanli's aim, the war within Smits and the baton that at Barça is usually in the hands of Calathes and Mirotic.

'La Penya' had to work hard at the start, sweating to score and to prevent the defending champion's attacks. A succession of losses in the azulgranas leveled a first quarter in which Barça took the rival zone with authority (12-11). Joventut did not turn away from the game and even before the break.

The success of those of 'Saras' put a 39-27 from which the Badalona team knew how to recompose with Pau Ribas at the controls. After the break, Hayes tied up that beacon for the visitors, Mirotic responded to Parra's two triples and Sanli continued his outside streak (53-37). Ribas opened the umbrella before the downpour but far from the hoop, Duran's team did not finish plugging in.

The success was a culé thing, with another arreón to close a third quarter that ended with the visiting options (69-48). Established in that twenty, 'Saras' was able to dose his most important men, just like a Duran who had to think ahead of time on Sunday. The champion, after a doubtful end to the campaign, the European elimination against Real Madrid, picks up the rhythm of the game again with the run that he took in the 2-0 win over Gran Canaria.

--RESULTADO: BARÇA, 89 - JOVENTUT, 72. (40-31, at the break).

BARÇA: Calathes (3), Laprovittola (3), Hayes (7), Mirotic and Davies (13) --initial quintet--; Abrines (6), Martínez (3), Smits (9), Sanli (16), Higgins (9), Kuric (-), Jokubaitis (9).

JOVENTUT: Happy (6), Busquets (2), Parra (8), Willis (11) and Tomic (10) --initial quintet--; Ribas (11), Paul (9), Ventura (-), Vives (7), Birgander (6), Maronka (2).

--REFEREES: Count, Castillo and Olivares. Fouled out Vives.

--PAVILLION: Palau Blaugrana.