The 'Basque Mamba' scored 12 points in an 18-1 run to put Barcelona on course for the win
Dario Brizuela came up big to hold off ALBA
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Despite leading since the tipoff, FC Barcelona was not enjoying a peaceful night against the visiting ALBA Berlin in Round 2. The visitors responded to each and every one of Barcelona’s attempts to pull away, and even when Nico Laprovittola made it 53-44 midway through the third period, the German team was not ready to surrender.
An unexpected 0-10 spurt led by Trevion Williams and Will McDowell-White gave ALBA a shock 53-54 lead and a chance to win at a place it had never won at before, with just 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
“It’s extremely hard to play against them,” admitted FC Barcelona guard Tomas Satoransky afterward. “They play one style of basketball – non-stopping, moving the ball, moving without the ball, screening for each other – so it’s very difficult, you have to guard all 24 seconds. We improved that in the second half, and thanks to Dario [Brizuela], who was on fire today, he helped us build the lead in the third quarter.”
Satoransky finished scoreless but dished 8 assists, some of which were to an unstoppable Dario Brizuela, who stepped up when his team needed him the most. He followed an Alex Abrines triple with seven points in a row that capped a 10-0 run for the hosts that returned the lead to the home side at the end of the third period, 62-54, in the blink of an eye.
He continued after the break as he provided another bucket and a triple that raised his stat line to 16 points, with 12 having come in less than three minutes bridging the third and last periods. His last basket, with six minutes remaining and Barcelona leading 76-61, earned him a standing ovation from the home fans.
“It was important for us to get this way at home, first game at home,” Brizuela celebrated. “We struggled a little bit in the first half with simple things and I think we did a better job in second half, so we are happy about it. I was feeling good, and the team gave me a ball on the right spots, so I took advantage or that but it's a [team] job.”