Barça stayed triple the Abu Dhabi Final Four. For the first time since 2004 in the Final Four of Tel Aviv there will not be a Spanish representative among the four best teams in Europe. And that the Catalans came very far for all the vicissitudes that have had to overcome this season in the form of injuries. Pinter had a triple to send his team to Abu Dhabi, but the American escort did not find a prize. The one that would have been the tenth Eighth Four for Barça became the second for the Monaco.
Unlike Barça, Spanoulis Arsenal in Monaco tends to infinity. Joan Peñarroya has had to look for life with nine players of the first squad and the Greek coach has allowed the luxury of having sections to Calathes and Papagiannis. The base is marginalized by the coach and the pivot had not played since mid -March. In the series against Barça he had not been a second on track until he appeared in the second quarter. Without its presence, Barcelona had the relatively controlled decisive party. With Anderson contributing much more than his usual energy and with Pinter’s points it had been enough to start sending. But it was to enter the Greek giant and make inner partner with Blossomgame so that the rhythm of the party changed.
Spanoulis turned to a more guerrilla quintet and the game began to resemble the first two played in Monaco when the locals swept Barça from a physical and intensity superiority that did not know how to digest the Barça. An 8-0 partial was the proof that Barcelona stopped being comfortable. The team was only supported by Pinter’s success, but it was a scarce argument. The first two rooms of Parker were a nightmare. The American signed a 0/9 in the shot when it was one of those days in which it is essential. The 30 points embedded were the way where the game did not have to go. Mike James was responsible for aggravating the situation after the break (49-39). The Barça of the first two games fit 32 and 31 points in the third quarter, but the team is another after the series passed through the Palau.
Anderson appeared again when he painted the panorama worse. Satoransky joined the eaves with a couple of triples and Willy Hernangómez recovered the activity and success of the third game. Without Pinter or Parker, who scored his first basket in the 28th minute, the team was recomposed and arrived with everything to decide the decisive section. To the presence of Papagiannis, Barça responded with the prominence in attack by Fall and Willy. The Greek scored 10 points almost in a row that were paved by the two greats of Barcelona. A triple from Parker and another from Brizuela served to counteract the “Mike James Factor” that also appeared. In the absence of two minutes nothing was determined (81-80). Barça threw himself into Pinter and was able to take his own with options until the end, but … in the last attack, in the last seven seconds he did not choose the best option. He consumed possession and a triple was played in front of the 2.21 papagiannis who found no prize. The Monaco will be in Abu Dabi and among the four best there will be no Spanish team.
85. Monaco (15+30+20+20): James (19), Strazel (12), Diallo (11), Blossongame (9) and Theis (4) -quinteto titular- Jaiteh (4), Okobo (9), Loyd (2), Papagiannis (17) and Tarpey (0).
84. Barcelona (19+20+23+22): Satoransky (8), Pinter (19), Anderson (16), Parker (7) and Fall (10) -quinteto tita -Brizuela (6), Willy (16), Abrines (2), Parra (0) and Villar (0).
Referees: Belosevic (SER), Nedovic (Cro) and Vilius (Lit). Without eliminated. Willy technique.
Incidents: 4,487 spectators in the La Salle Gaston Medecin pavilion. Fifth match corresponding to the quarterfinals of the Euroleague.
EUROLIGA FINAL PHASE
1. Olympiacos-Real Madrid (3-1)
(84-72; 77-71; 80-72 and 86-84)
2. Monaco, 85-Barcelona, 84 (3-2)
(97-80; 92-79; 89-100; 72-79 and 85-84)
3. Fenerbahçe-Paris Basketball (3-0)
(83-78; 89-72 and 88-98)
4. PANATHINAIKOS-ANADOLU EFES (2-2)
(87-83; 76-79; 81-77)
Final Four (May 23-25)
Olympiacos-Mónaco
Fenerbahçe-Ganador 4
Final (May 25)