Brizuela asks for a place at Barça de Peñarroya

Barça beat ALBA Berlin (88-73) this Friday on the second day of the Euroleague, played at the Palau Blaugrana, to celebrate its first victory in the top continental competition, thanks to the scoring explosion of Darío Brizuela (18 points ) from the end of the third quarter.

The Spanish international was the key for Barça to give its fans its first victory in Europe, after the defeat last week in Kaunas. Joan Peñarroya looked for that turning point, especially in the one and two positions, direction of play that he found with Tomás Satoransky, and artillery with Brizuela.

It was also at a critical moment, at the end of the third quarter, when ALBA took the lead (53-54) after the Catalans had dominated until then, despite failing to break the score. Satoransky’s entry led the way and Brizuela burst through the rival ring tirelessly until the ruling.

Álex Abrines also added to the exterior success that had been lacking in the locals and that never came in the Germans, 3 of 18 in triples. The Barça team, which started with an 8-0 run, was supported on the inside by Jabari Parker and Jan Vesely, but had no regularity in its lead, 43-37 at half-time, nor the clear ideas that ALBA seemed to have, with Martin Hermannsson and Matteo Spagnolo.

After passing through the locker room, Peñarroya gave the alternative to Nicolás Laprovíttola as point guard, while Juan Núñez still seems to be waiting for his moment, but the Argentine did not finish running well backwards, nor did he mess up in attack. Israel González’s men had a breakthrough run to take the lead but Brizuela lifted Palau with a festival of points.

The ecstasy continued at the beginning of the last quarter (71-55) and Barça declared a necessary victory to, more calmly, polish the pieces of a new project. Kevin Punter (14 points) took advantage of the last possessions to add the confidence and rhythm that a team with five important signings and a new coach needs.

TECHNICAL SHEET:

–RESULT: BARÇA, 88 – ALBA BERLIN, 73, (43-37, at half-time)

–TEAMS:

BARÇA: Núñez (-), Punter (14), Abrines (9), Parker (8) and Vesely (10) –starting quintet–; Satoransky (-), Anderson (7), Metu (9), Hernangómez (7), Laprovittola (6), Brizuela (18), Fall (-).

ALBA BERLIN: Hermannsson (13), Spagnolo (7), Olinde (7), Wetzell (7) and Williams (8) –starting quintet–; Bean (-), Procida (2), Koumadje (8), Rapieque (6), Mcdowell-White (12), Mattisseck (-), Schneider (3).

–PARTIALS: 19-16, 24-21, 20-17, 25-19.

–REFEREES: Vyklicky, Ryzhyk and Majkic. No eliminations.

–PAVILLION: Palau Blaugrana.