The The word crisis in basketball is, on many occasions, overused. Bad times happen to everyone. And what seemed to hover over him Real Madrid, passes the eternal rival, Barça. The problems come to the new project Joan Peñarroya, who missed his third consecutive game (four of the last five). He BAXI Manresa drew a work of art of rhythm and basketball (85-72) He unseated the blurred Barça team. Little celebration of 125 anniversary they can do.
MANRESA (BARCELONA), 12/01/2024.- Baxi Manresa’s Belgian point guard Retin Obasohan (i) goes to the basket against Barça’s American forward Justin Anderson (d) during the matchday 9 of the Endesa League between the Baxi Manresa and Barça, played this Sunday at the Nou Congost Pavilion in Manresa. EFE/Siu Wu
He Lazinesswho had already overthrown the Unicaja leader in the Nou Congost, was faithful to his principles. With rhythm and not stopping at any time, success (12/29T3) and the wonderful Dani Pérez (22 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists), Derrick Alston (12+9) and the streak of Álex Reyes (12) in command. At Barça everything failed. The injured Jabari Parker, a slip by Brizuela waiting for the doctor Kevin Punter was sent off for a short circuit. Only Willy Hernangómez (17), finally, shone to avoid a major disaster.
Difficulties for Barça
It was not a Simple Catalan derby for Barça beyond anniversary celebrations. for returning after two consecutive defeats (Bayern and Real Madrid) and because of the losses. That of Raúl Neto, after only one game and that will last a month. And Jabari Parker, clear leader of the team along with Kevin Punter, for the visit to the Nou Congost. Peñarroya had to maneuver and pose a complicated duel against Manresa from dawn. It wouldn’t turn out well.
On the Congost, the team Diego Ocampo came out better thanks to Alston Jr. and Dani Pérez, (10-4, 5′) something that Joel Parra was in charge of stopping from the outside (22-22, 10′). That did not change the attitude of the Bages team. They raised their outside percentage with the triples of Álex Reyes, Alston and Pérez -again-, and put pressure on the culés (37-28, 15′) marked by an irregular game.
Alston lanza.
He went further. Manresa continued with his match rhythm, and did not reduce his success. Álex Reyes converted two more triples, Dani Pérez maintained the balance and Reti Obasohan added another to get a Barça without spark into serious trouble. In addition to another bad news after a slip by Brizuela that took him out of the game. 51 points at halftime, the wake-up call was severe (51-38).
Manresa takes off
Things didn’t change. Quite the opposite. Because with very little time played in the second half, another star would disappear. Kevin Punter received his second technical for protesting a foul on Satoransky and the two great exponents of Peñarroya’s game were not there. With Manresa maintaining the type (56-42, 24′) and reading well how to feed off the personnel line after bonus.
That was their solution to stop the acceleration of Satoransky and Parra, plus another spectacular rush. Another triple from the indefensible Dani Pérez and a miracle on the horn of the third quarter of Steinbergs once again broke the Barça reaction attempt (70-53, 30′). The drama, total and absolute for an unknown Barça.
MANRESA (BARCELONA), 12/01/2024.- Barça’s Czech point guard Tomas Satoransky (d) is defended by Baxi Manresa’s Spanish point guard Mario Saint-Supéry (i) during the matchday 9 of the Endesa League between the Baxi Manresa and Barça, played this Sunday at the Nou Congost Pavilion in Manresa. EFE/Siu Wu
He Barça tried to burn his ships in the final minutes. Willy Hernangomez gave some solution under the board, but Baxi Manresa got out of trouble with another triple of Hunt (77-60, 34′). It happened again with another mini-partial that Satoransky did not consolidate from the outside to place himself at 10 points. He took advantage of it Dani Pérez and ended up dynamiting the crash. He drew two good baskets in a row and sent Barça into the abyss in the match (81-64, 38′).
85-72 closed a brutal morning for the BAXI Manresa. And a serious warning for Barça, which is entering a phase of doubts. Among the casualties, the problems and the defeats that have already come. The ghosts of crises, if they exist, have arrived.
Technical sheet
85. Baxi Manresa (22+29+19+15): Pérez (22), Hunt (8), Steinbergs (5), Massa (8) y Sagnia (2) -inicial start-. Reyes (12), Saint-Supery, Alston (12), Obasohan (10) and Cate (6).
72. Barca (22+16+15+19). Núñez (5), Brizuela, Anderson (7), Parra (13), Fall -initial five. Punter (4), Sarr (4) Vesely (4), Satoransky (16), Willy (17), Abrines (2) and Butajevas.
