There were two games tonight at the Palau Blaugrana. One on the field, with Barça risking their lives in the Euroleague. Another in the stands, and in the hearts of a fan that had not forgotten what it owes to him. And Barça won both.
Before the initial jump, the Palau stopped. Vice President Rafael Yuste gave the Serbian coach a framed photograph with the message “Thank you, Sveti!”, and the fans responded with a long, heartfelt, standing ovation. , raised his hands to the ceiling of the pavilion and placed his hand on his chest. Almost 77 years old, 46 on the bench, a figure that needs no introduction. Barça’s two European champions were present on the court, those from 2003 and those from 2010, to support the man who lit the first flame.
🔵🔴 The Palau Blaugrana pays tribute to Svetislav Pesic
✅ The Serbian coach receives a special recognition before his last game in the Euroleague
— Barça Basket (@FCBbasket)
Afterwards, basketball ruled, as Pesic has always wanted. And Barça did not take long to make it clear. The Blaugrana started with too many losses and Bayern, with nothing to lose and with the self-confidence of someone who plays free, took advantage to go ahead on the scoreboard (7-12 in the 7th minute). But Pascual’s team did not lose its calm. Clinging to Clyburn, Brizuela and a Youssoupha Fall who has been the giant that no one expected for weeks, Barça gained ground until taking the lead in the last play of the first quarter (20-19).
From there it was another story. A 12-2 run at the beginning of the second quarter deflated a Bayern team that, as soon as it saw itself behind, seemed to remember that it had been weeks without any options. The 42-31 score at halftime still left some intrigue, but Barça left the locker room with very clear ideas. Three consecutive triples by Vesely, Clyburn and Satoransky, the latter in his return after four games out, dynamited the game at once (55-36) and turned it into a walk.
with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Fall had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds that sparked chants of “MVP” in the Palau. Brizuela contributed 16 points and covered up a bad night for Punter, who did not score his first basket until the last quarter. And Satoransky, despite arriving with a medical clearance just minutes before the game, showed that his presence changes the face of the team.
Pesic had already won his match before kick-off. The final score, 95-69, is so overwhelming that it is almost cruel for his last night in the Euroleague, but the Serbian coach lived it with the dignity he always had. Barça finishes ninth and will host Red Star on Tuesday in the play-in. If he wins, on Friday he will have to travel to face the loser of Panathinaikos-Monaco. He playoff European is still alive. For now, one more week. If they make the cut, they will face Olympiacos for a place in the Final 4.
