Barça stopped by the physical level of Valencia Basket (86-79)
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BarcelonaBarça suffered their second defeat of the season against Valencia Basket (86-76). The Barça team closed out a three-game week with a game of great physical wear and tear against a rival who took oil out of their dominance in the rebound (44-23). After an even first half, the Catalan team ran out of energy in La Fonteta.
The Catalan players ended up very upset with the referee’s criteria. “They have played with a much more physical tone than us. We have come out too soft and we have not been able to add physical toughness. The difference in rebounds is unacceptable. Many things have been allowed and we have had little respect,” lamented Sarunas. Jasikevicius, who complained about the difference in whistling fouls. The Lithuanian coach, who had the casualties of Cory Higgins and Pierre Oriola, reduced the rotation to just nine players.
Despite the casualties of Sam Van Rossom and Martin Hermannsson, Valencia Basket competed very well against Barça. The Valencian team took advantage of their dominance in the rebound and a very high level of contacts to reach the break with a tight score (40-42). The home team better understood the refereeing criteria during a second half in which their opponent ran out of energy.
Baxi Manresa, meanwhile, got rid of Urbas Fuenlabrada (99-89). Despite the casualties of Ismaël Bako and Elias Valtonen, the Bages team deactivated the resistance of the rival and already has the same victories as Barça, which has pending matches.
La Penya, in Bilbao
After crossing the Río Breogán on Friday in overtime, the Joventut de Badalona will visit the Surne Bilbao Basket this Sunday (5pm, Movistar Deportes 1). Ferran Bassas was a disappointment, however.
