BarcelonaBarça beat UCAM Murcia (85-78) in the Endesa League debut. The Barça team squandered a difference of 17 points, but reversed the situation in time and began the defense of the title with a victory. Nikola Mirotic (18 points), Cory Higgins (18) and Brandon Davies (17) were the top Catalan scorers, and between the three they added 53 of the 85 points of a Catalan team that is still too irregular.
“The first game must always be won. We need to improve things, but I’m happy because we did things right. Overall we did three very good quarters. Of course, we are also in our line of giving away benefits. We have to start assuming that this will be the case and we will have to suffer. It’s been our problem for years, it was already with the previous coach and it still is with me. The start of the third quarter is unacceptable for a team of our level. We have only been together for a month and we know we need to improve things “, analyzed Sarunas Jasikevicius, Barça’s coach.
“The key to winning the game has been discipline. Players need to understand that it all starts from scratch, it’s a constant suffering. I have been suffering for 23 years for fear of losing and I continue in this profession. If you are ready to suffer, then enjoy it much more. There is no magic formula, we have to put the batteries and play with more concentration. When we are well, we are good “, said the Lithuanian coach, who had the absences of Àlex Abrines, Kyle Kuric and Sertac Sanli.
Of the three debutants, Nigel Hayes-Davis was the one who made a more solid match. The winger added 4 points, 5 rebounds and 3 rebounds against a very physical opponent. The contribution of Nico Laprovittola and Rokas Jobubaitis, who will need more time to lead the Barça game with more personality, was less.
.
