Classifying for some Euroleague playoffs should not be a reason for lavish celebration by a club like Barça, which by history and budget is obliged to have it as a minimum objective. But, given the erratic Barca season, a mixture of their own errors and an almost unheard of injury-more than Sarr’s escape to the Harrison Ford-that the Peñarroya team has directly accessed the playoffs, saving the play-in, where among others the Real Madrid of Campazzo and Tavares will be lowered to the mud and Tavares, it is an indisputable success. Barça did not fail against the Virtus, which although it did not seem like that nothing was played, and thus tied its classification, held in style in a Palau that is even allowed to dream again with its team, to which the monaco is now planted in front of it as a last obstacle to the Final Four of Abu Dabi. Barça had been drawn an almost unthinkable stage two weeks ago, when Bayern assaulted the Palau. The combination of results had put in his hands the possibility of disputing the playoffs. Winning the Virtus, one of the worst teams of the course, was the only condition. Almost a gift for a team that does not do so much saw the play-in as the most realistic objective. The Virtus made the rubber all night and less than 4m for the end sowed the panic with the 76-81 that the accounts were easy did not suppose the mission was also. Ivanovic Virtus has not obtained good results but it is a team full of veterans who knows very well to play their cards. He was not going to sell his skin cheap, as the Palau verified with concern. An agile and horny Anderson premiered the hostilities of the night. Jabari Parker had to dance with the ugliest, having to defend a Shengelia who was again the best weapon of the Italians. But, for weapons, that of Kevin Punter, very inspired by the final against the Virtus, which placed 23-16 before the first horn. The duel entered matched at the last minute, in which Parra and Parker secured the triumph of the Bronx Astro did not unplug and widened until 28-16 with a great two plus one. But virtus was not given much less, no matter how much pride was on the mat. A couple of Holiday triples and Shangelia’s free throws prevented the thing from breaking and fed uncertainty, while confirming the triumph of the Ephes that opened the fifth place for the Barca ones. The Palau celebrated Happy the return of Jan Vesely after many weeks injured and the Czech responded confirming that he is already in full conditions to help his team. Even a triple scored for the algarabía of the stands. But far from being a festive, the game was a constant strip and loosen. Always with Barça ahead until Holiday placed the maximum Italian 76-81 to less than 4M for the end, sowing panic in Barcelona. A brilliant reaction matched things and thus reached the last minute. There, a parra -free shots and parker free throws, paid with two good defenses, polished the fringes and unleashed the euphoria. Barça is playoff team, who would have said it. Joan Peñarroya “is a day to be happy, it is a great prize to be fifth” more than happy and with pending invoices, Joan Peñarroya tried to value what was achieved by his Barça. “It’s a day to be happy, staying fifth is a Grand Prize in a Euroleague that is being wild,” said the Barca coach after the decisive victory against the Virtus. “You have to give this team a lot of value, this is the hardest season of my career in terms of difficulties,” he added. Technical file91- Barça (23+22+26+20): Satoransky (11), Pinter (20), Anderson (12), Parker (10), Hernangómez (9) -Initrus-, Fall (0), Vesely (9), Brizuela (10), Abrines (0) and Parra (10). 87- Virtus Segafredo Bologna (16+22+27+22): Pajola (0), Clyburn (15), Cordinier (11), Shengelia (17), Zizic (12) -Cinco initial-, Hackett (0), Akele (0), Morgan (5), Holiday (16), Polonara (5) and Diouf (6). Referees: Robert Lottermoser (Ale), Jakub Zamojski (Pol) and Rain Operandi (EST). Without eliminated. Incidents: Party of Day 34 of the Euroleague played at the Palau Blaugrana (Barcelona) against 6,995 spectators.
