79-53: Barça recovers its best version and returns to the Final Four

The Barça He recovered his best game at the key moment and won with clarity and forcefulness (79-53) the victory in the fifth and final quarter-final match against the Saint Petersburg Zenith, a victory that represents his return to a Euroleague Final Four seven years after the last time, in 2014, precisely when he was on the Barça bench Xavi Pascual, this time on the opposing side. In the appointment of Cologne (Germany), which will be played from May 28 to 30, will be measured at Armani milan in the semifinals.

After failing to achieve his best in the previous four games in the series, the box Sarunas Jasikevicius They recovered their hallmarks, especially on the defensive side, leaving the Russian team very low, especially in the third quarter, in which they only conceded 9 points. In the end he only allowed 20 field baskets (out of 65 attempts) and placed no more and no less than 9 blocks.

Barça-Zenit, in images






The Barça team took the lead in minute 4 of the game, after a draw at 9, and no longer trailed behind on the scoreboard, setting the pace at all times, making life very complicated for Kevin Pangos, which had been a nightmare up to that point.

Great match of the whole Barça in general, with prominent protagonism of players as already expected as Nick Calathes, Kyle Kuric, Brandon Davies or Cory Higgins, which demonstrated their experience and quality, but also others less expected, such as Leandro bolmaro, great shock coming off the bench, and also from Pau Gasol, who had a truly remarkable performance, undoubtedly the best since his reappearance. His 7 points, 3 rebounds and 4 blocks (16 Valuation) were a great plus for his team.

After that 9-9, the Barça he sped up and in a few minutes he was down to 21-12. The ZenithObviously, he did not give up and kept fighting, but the Barça team was not there to allow surprises. After a 43-30 at halftime, he gave another arreón and went up to +23 (57-34) in the 27th minute and headed towards Cologne, to the Final four. It has taken him seven years to come back, but the Barcelona team is back where it had been used to be years ago, among the four best teams in Europe.

Data sheet

79 – Barça (23 + 20 + 14 + 22): Calathes (12), Higgins (15), Abrines (-), Mirotic (7), Davies (11) -starting five-, Hanga (7), Bolmar (7 ), Gasol (7), Oriola (-), Kuric (11) and Claver (2)

53 – St. Petersburg Zenit (14 + 16 + 9 + 14): Pangos (7), Rivers (-), Hollins (5), Thomas (7), Black (3) -starting five-, Zakharov (1), Fridzon (4), Baron (9), Khostov (-), Zubkov (6), Poythress (11).

Referees: Robert Lottermoser, Olegs Latisevs and Tomislav Hordov. Eliminated: Black (min 40).

Incidents: fifth and last game of the Euroleague play-offs played without an audience at the Palau Blaugrana.

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