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.