Joventut defeats Barça in the Catalan classic

The Catalan derby of the fourth matchday of the Liga Endesa concluded with a resounding victory for Joventut, reaffirming their superiority over a Barça team unable to find answers. The final score, 113-89, accurately reflects the progression of the match played at the Olímpic: one team executing their game plan with precision against another that was overwhelmed from the second quarter.

Rubio and Laprovittola star in the green-and-black celebration

Ricky Rubio orchestrated the game for Miret's team with authority, finishing with 19 points and complete control of the rhythm. His teammate Eli Ndiaye contributed 17 points in a performance that exemplified the collective strength of the green-and-black team. However, it was Nico Laprovittola who stole the spotlight in the second half, activating the same mode that allowed him to shine in the Supercup final. The green-and-black forward hit 5 of 7 three-pointers in the last twenty minutes, including two that made it 77-61 and left the blue-and-blacks reeling.

Joventut demonstrated a varied offensive capability and a defensive balance that Barça could not neutralize. The contribution of all players, characteristic of Miret's team, was evident from the start of the second quarter, when the green-and-blacks executed a devastating run of 20-2 that not only tied the score but also allowed them to end the first half with a lead of 49-45.

Barça without answers after halftime

The blue-and-blacks started the match feeling good, managing to lead 23-26 after the first quarter. Tyrese Martin, the top scorer for the Catalans with 21 points, and Stanley Umude, with 12, were the only ones providing some offensive consistency. However, the break did not bring any substantial changes. The second half was a nightmare for Sekulic’s team, which watched as the advantage of Joventut grew relentlessly.

The third quarter confirmed the supremacy of the green-and-black team. Rubio continued to dominate the court while Laprovittola gradually took the spotlight. The final period turned into a celebration at the Olímpic, with the green-and-black forward as the main figure and the score drifting definitively away from the blue-and-blacks' aspirations. Sekulic couldn't find a defensive formula to stop the fluid and precise play of the green-and-blacks, who executed their basketball flawlessly.

Tenerife comes back against Baskonia; Valencia dominates Murcia

Beyond the Catalan classic, the fourth matchday of the Liga Endesa brought two other significant victories. Tenerife managed to prevail over Kosner Baskonia by 82-77 after a comeback defined in the last quarter. The Tenerife team executed a 28-17 run in the final ten minutes that allowed them to secure a victory that seemed compromised. Kyle Guy was the main architect of the turnaround, reaching 24 points and stepping up in the most pressured moments to lead his team to victory.

Meanwhile, Valencia Basket delivered a dominant performance against UCAM Murcia, defeating them 116-93. The taronja displayed an enormous scoring ability in a game where their offensive superiority was evident. Rivero led the attack with 20 points, followed by Shorts with 16. The victory allowed the Valencians to regain confidence after their recent Euroleague defeats, reconnecting with the good sensations that characterized their play.

Other results from the matchday

The fourth round of the Liga Endesa featured a varied lineup of matches. Unicaja defeated Kids&Us Manresa (84-72), MoraBanc Andorra triumphed over Río Breogán (108-102), Monbus Obradoiro won the Galician derby against Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos (79-72), FIATC Girona thrashed Leyma Coruña (110-90), Casademont Zaragoza beat iLERNA Lleida (109-98), and Real Madrid overwhelmed Surne Bilbao Basket (119-84). A matchday that confirmed the competitiveness of Spanish domestic basketball.

The result between Joventut and Barça, identical to that of the Supercup final, establishes a precedent regarding the balance of power in Catalan basketball. The green-and-blacks demonstrated they possess the tactical tools and individual talent to neutralize a rival of the size of the blue-and-blacks, while the latter will need to analyze which aspects of their game require correction to compete on equal terms in future matches.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Joventut se come al Barça en el clásico catalán