Lucas Sáez-BravoSpecial envoy Málaga
Special envoy Malaga
Updated Friday, February 16, 2024-20:10
With the spirit of
Chichi Creus
, of that TDK that 28 years ago starred in a unique surprise in the Murcia Cup, the now Baxi Manresa dreamed for almost 38 minutes at Carpena. A feat on the shore.
Jabari Parker and Laprovittola
, pure class, appeared when the ball was hot and with an 8-0 run they gave Barça a pass to the semi-finals, where this Saturday they will face Unicaja or Tenerife. [102-91: Narration and statistics]
To know more
Cup.
Jabari Parker, the F5 in the Barça of an NBA star: injuries, Mormon faith and a great-grandfather in Tonga
Editor: LUCAS SÁEZ-BRAVO (Special Envoy)Málaga
Jabari Parker, the F5 in the Barça of an NBA star: injuries, Mormon faith and a great-grandfather in Tonga
A relief for
Roger Grimau , who advances where
Jasikevicius
could not last year
. His team did not shine, with no response to the rival's offensive audacity, sometimes surprised by the hardness and pace of Manresa. But he remained calm in the moment of truth and to the next screen.
Of the eight teams in Malaga, Baxi Manresa is the most unexpected element. He is not made for these summits, but his first lap there, better than that of Baskonia or Joventut. On their own merits. And once at the party, like two years ago, let's dance, even though Barça will be the first one. There were no complexes and a lot of nerve. A 9-18 start, when only Jabari Parker was up to par for the Blaugrana, who beat them at the Congost on the same Sunday.
Grimau, a debutant, had to give his pupils a twist. That level of defensive intensity was not enough.
Willy
and Laprovittola brought joy in the paint and
Da Silva
brought order at the back. And logic prevailed before the break, with the dominance of the rebound as the favorite's best ally.
Going through the locker room was a restart for the Bagès team, a death with their boots on. His return was pure adrenaline, a 2-13 to get on Barça's nerves, bordering on disaster. The Blaugrana recovered, with Willy as a differentiating element, and there Manresa returned, with baskets of pure talent from
Brandon Taylor
. Five consecutive points from the point guard raised the lead: 87-88 with less than three minutes remaining.
It was going to be talent that resolved Barça's maximum alert. Like
Campazzo
the day before against Murcia, it was
Laprovittola
who took responsibility by the chest. The Argentine calm and the quality of Jabari (and two missed free throws by Badio in that decisive stretch). An 8-0 partial in the abyss and goodbye to the Manresa dream.