Self-esteem for a project full of challenges. Barça started the season with a title they had not won since 2019, that of the Catalan National League AON. After losing the last finals against MoraBanc Andorra and Baxi Manresa, the Blaugrana team deactivated Joventut de Badalona (82-92). The match served as a precursor to the semifinals of the Endesa Super Cup this Saturday, when the two teams will meet again in a direct knockout.
The trophy was lifted by Edu Torrent, a masseuse with more than two decades of experience in the staff who is starting a new stage within the club. Barça and Joventut have not met in a Catalan League final since 2013, and the match did not disappoint. Despite the few training sessions that the two teams were able to complete before the tournament in Tarragona, the match had rhythm and competitiveness. The fans who once again filled the Palau d’Esports Catalunya enjoyed some high-flying basketball.
Sarunas Jasikevicius, who had Nikola Mirotic off, ruled out Tomás Satoransky, Michael Caicedo and James Nnaji. “We are happy. The players are starting to understand our game and we were able to rest some of the guys who were struggling,” said the Lithuanian coach. Carles Duran, for his part, could not count on Henry Ellenson, but he recovered Joel Parra, who on Sunday was proclaimed champion of Europe with the Spanish team. The bad news was that Ante Tomic ended with physical ailments.
Joventut de Badalona took advantage of a good first quarter to achieve a difference of 9 points (19-10). The offensive contribution of Henry Ellenson, who scored the first shots he attempted, boosted the play of a green-and-black team that retains many pieces from last season. Barça’s reaction, which Nikola Kalinic used from four, came from the defense. The culer team raised the level of intensity and caused the opponent’s percentages to drop. A final 0-10 run turned the score around before the break (37-41).
Joventut lost too many balls during a third period in which the lead grew to 12 points (52-64). The adrenaline of Rokas Jokubaitis and the consistency of Nikola Kalinic served to prop up the game of a Barça who ran whenever they could.
From Tarragona to Girona
“The bid to bring the Catalan League to Tarragona has been a success. What we are looking for is for basketball to take root throughout the territory and I think the competition has been a success at all levels”, said Ferran Aril, president of the Catalan Basketball Federation (FCBQ). This season, the Catalan National Leagues AON 2022 are made up of a total of 46 participating teams. The final four women’s will be played between Friday 30 September and Sunday 2 October in Fontajau. Spar Girona will play against Barça CBS, while Cadí La Seu will face a rival from the Women’s Challenge League.
