Xavi Pascual returns to the Palau to information Barça to a victory towards the underside crew | Basketball | Sports | EUROtoday

Xavi Pascual returned to the Palau Blaugrana, his true house in basketball, and he did so to provide the Barcelona followers a victory towards Asvel Villaurbanne (88-78) with nonetheless too many shadows in his sport. The path of Juani Marcos and the protection of Myles Cale had been decisive for Barcelona, ​​a lot improved in protection – it left its rival at 13 factors within the final quarter – to realize its eighth victory within the Euroleague.

Barcelona received too twisted up towards an Asvel Villaurbanne who entered the Palau with solely three wins in twelve video games. Throughout the primary half he gave the sensation that he had it in his energy to impose his superiority, however he proved incapable. The gamers are nonetheless assimilating the adjustments that Xavi Pascual has introduced with him. A coach who was returning house and who certainly didn’t like that his crew conceded 25 factors within the second quarter.

Toko Shengelia is a participant who has as many virtues as knowledge. The Georgian is the overall participant. A 2.06m man who defends, rebounds, scores and assists. In slightly below eight minutes he saved his crew on their ft towards the impetuous Asvel because of his six factors and 5 rebounds. Satoransky, the helmsman, was compelled to take a seat out for eight minutes within the absence of Nico Laprovittola, who will likely be out of motion for a couple of month as a consequence of an damage.

Joel Parra, Shengelia’s substitute, can not contribute as a lot as his teammate, however he gave extra depth to the Barça crew’s sport. While Juani Marcos occupied the purpose guard place with good minutes and clearer concepts than in Joan Peñarroya’s time. Barça, sure, lacked regularity and continuity. The crew felt that it was superior to its opponent and that led to a sure leisure that Asvel took benefit of to remain in competition. Xavi Pascual’s males lacked precision, with many errors in well-selected photographs, and order to specific their superiority. Nando de Colo (22 factors and 9 assists), the stainless Frenchman, has a lot basketball in his palms that, at 38 years previous, he’s nonetheless necessary. Even extra so, a figuring out issue on this crew that has a tough time getting out of the underside of the Euroleague standings.

Barça was not fully high-quality in protection in the course of the first half (45-44) and was particularly clumsy when committing private fouls on the attackers of Pierric Poupet’s crew, who took 22 free throws in these 20 minutes with solely two errors. Special point out deserves De Colo, who additionally shines on this aspect, the place he has not but failed within the Euroleague after 46 pitches. He is so profitable that he takes benefit of all his expertise to get fouls out of his defenders’ pockets (12/12 on this match).

Asvel started to imagine in its choices. The fourth victory was inside attain and it grew towards a Barça that was too chaotic. Bodian Massa commanded the paint and it did not matter which heart handed by his area. On the surface, De Colo expressed his qualities to attain in all places. But the French level guard, a historic level guard, wanted a relaxation and within the third quarter he discovered a great substitute in Thomas Heurtel, who was booed on the presentation for the issues he had with the membership and the demand he positioned on him for 1.5 million euros.

Kevin Punter (24 factors) accepted the scoring problem in a Barcelona that didn’t attain 50% accuracy in photographs from two. Juani Marcos grew to become his ally on the finish of the third quarter to place the Blaugranas forward once more (68-65). Inside, Pascual opted for the nationwide product with Willy Hernangómez and Parra, highly effective on the rebound. The crew was more and more stable in protection and the Argentine level guard was in command of altering the dynamics of the sport to permit Barça to lastly imagine in victory (75-67). Pascual’s crew already felt invincible and two nice defensive actions by Cale completed propelling his crew (80-69). Xavi Pascual’s Barça solely wanted to handle that benefit to proceed rising in Europe.