BadalonaThree days before playing the classic against Real Madrid, a Barça with the homework done for days lost against Maccabi (80-104). Sarunas Jasikevicius’s Rokas Jokubaitis tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn’t get past the visitors’ defenders. The Israeli team scored 16 of the 27 triples it attempted.
On a day marked by the Tel Aviv bombings, the 1991 Dragons and Sang Culé refused to attend the party because they considered their freedom of expression to be under attack. “I have not accepted the conditions imposed by the club’s representatives and the Mossos, understanding that they restrict freedom of expression,” lamented Toni Valle, spokesman for the Dragons in 1991. “Every time Maccabi comes, it’s the same, but today tolerable limits in a democracy “, explained the representatives of Sang Culé, who denounced that they were banned from the Palestinian flags and that someone opened without permission the cabinets of the Palau Blaugrana where they keep their banners.
Àlex Abrines, who scored 17 points with 5/7 triples, was Barça’s best player. In addition, 16 of Barça’s 21 assists were shared between Nick Calathes and Dante Exum. James Nnaji, who placed three caps and offered touches of his talent. The reaction of the Barça team was insufficient against a rival who has won six of the last seven games played. “It’s not a good match for us. We have to compete more, no matter who is playing,” said Jasikevicius, who rested Nico Laprovittola and Kyle Kuric.
Maccabi took advantage of their three-point line to score 57 points in the first minutes. The Israeli team scored 9 of the 12 triples they tried against a Barça defense without the rigor of other days. Despite the points from the perimeter of Àlex Abrines, the Catalan team could not follow the scoring pace of the rival (46-57).
Barça tried to come back during a third quarter in which the difference dropped to five points (60-65). Without the necessary defensive continuity, the efforts of the Catalan team were not rewarded against a rival that during the last period was again far superior to the Palau Blaugrana. The 104 points scored by the Israeli team summarize the facilities provided by the Catalan defense.
Albert Ventura, renovated
The Joventut de Badalona announced the renewal of Albert Ventura until 2024. “I am very happy to stay at home. I will continue to fight for these colors and what I want is for us to end the year doing great things, “said the green-and-black captain.
