FIATC Girona stood strong at home against Asisa Joventut (101-87). Mac McClung (23 points), the American who chose Girona following his heart's intuition, was decisive. Andrzej Pluta and Jassel Perez complemented the work of the three-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion. “McClung is making a very great effort to adapt to a new style,” analyzed Moncho Fernández. “We lost our focus,” opined Dani Miret, who missed Ludde Hakanson and Boogie Ellis.

Change of ownership at Joventut Badalona. The Lithuanian group Confluence Valley has bought the shares of Scranton Enterprises in an operation led by Paulius Motiejunas, who after being an executive at Zalgiris directed the Euroleague as CEO from June 2023 to January 2026. The operation, which was reported by journalist Xavi Ballesteros and is subject to final approval by the High Council for Sports (CSD), will include Ricky Rubio in the shareholding. The player, who returned to the team last year, was eager to increase his involvement in the project.

Barça defeated Armani Olimpia Milan (81-89), an insipid rival that has only won one of the first seven EuroLeague games. With not many fans in the stands and without much competitive tension, the Italian team could not deactivate a blue and garnet side with the need to erase the bad taste of the Badalona match. The 'culers' added their fourth triumph on a night in which the 17 offensive rebounds were key.

When Xevi Pujol designed Barça 2026-27, he was very clear about the style of play he wanted to bet on with Aleksander Sekulic. The proposal had to fill the games with fast actions and increase the number of possessions. The team has shown signs of the advantages of accentuating this style, but it has not yet found consistency in its game. Furthermore, the Barça side suffers from some of the logical consequences of this style, such as conceding more points than usual.

Asisa Joventut repeated their Supercopa Endesa exhibition and sent Barça back to the corner to think (113-89). La Penya, which thrives in scenarios that motivate them, made the 10,248 spectators at the Palau Olímpic go wild. Ricky Rubio, Nico Laprovittola, and Eli Ndiaye led the green-and-black triumph. Furthermore, the young Adrián Torres completed a great performance. "Catalonia is green-and-black," the pavilion ended up singing.

LeBron James will live in New York but will play in Philadelphia. The new star of the Philadelphia 76ers, who will debut his 24th NBA season on Tuesday, will make a daily journey equivalent to going from Barcelona to Lleida. The forward will cover the distance by helicopter to avoid the dreaded traffic jams on the East Coast of the United States. The eccentricity has generated a flood of comments from fans. Some see it as practical, but the majority criticize the ecological footprint that he will generate every day he has to go to practice. Others remember the unfortunate Kobe Bryant, who died in a plane crash.

The best Barça of the season so far recovered from a 14-point deficit against Olympiacos, forced overtime, but could not complete the feat (100-105). The blaugrana team played with the passion of Pep Guardiola, who witnessed the match live, but lacked the necessary determination to overcome the EuroLeague champion. Justin Robinson, who forced extra time with a three-pointer, and Tyrese Martin had a great performance at the Palau Blaugrana.

The double European matchday at the Palau Blaugrana began with a victory for Barça against Maccabi (90-87). The blue and garnet team pulled off a very dangerous game and added their third win in the Euroleague (3-2). Aleksander Sekulic's instinct balanced a Culer side that is still too inconsistent. The coach got it right with a game plan that knew how to give prominence to Umoja Gibson and Justin Robinson at the opportune moment. The first provided energy during the most difficult stretch. The second decided it with a three-pointer with 1.6 seconds remaining.

Before giving the green light to his signing, Joan Laporta wanted to meet Aleksander Sekulic. The Slovenian coach's temperament soon convinced both the president of the blue and garnet club and the rest of the people with decision-making power. The coach has taken little time to win everyone over.

Barça overcame Valencia Basket in the rematch of the Liga Endesa final (89-86). Tosan Evbuomwan (7 points and 8 rebounds) left a very good impression in Nikola Mirotic's return to the Palau Blaugrana. The Montenegrin power forward, who missed the decisive three-pointer, scored 10 points against his former team. "It is an important triumph against one of the teams in the best form in Europe," explained Aleksander Sekulic. The coach gave Stanley Umude a rest.

Barça began their particular marathon of games with a home defeat against a tough-to-beat Zalgiris (81-88). The blaugrana team, which conceded 33 points in the last period, squandered a 10-point lead. All 12 home players had offensive involvement, but Justin Robinson was the most inspired against a much more tactically mature opponent (20 points).

The Euroleague owner clubs met in Cernobbio (Italy) to debate and reach a consensus on strategic decisions regarding the future of their joint ownership. The majority rejected the NBA's offer to jointly organize a new competition in Europe, although reaching an agreement in the future is not ruled out. Furthermore, they agreed to continue the process to expand the number of franchises and the expansion of the tournament from the current 13 members to 24.

After the good feelings from Friday, Barça closed a demanding week of three away games with a defeat on the court of UCAM Murcia (100-94). The local team, a very uncomfortable rival since Sito Alonso has been the coach, proposed a very tough game. The Culer players, many of whom were making their debut at the Palacio de Deportes, could not breathe at any moment. Juani Marcos added 8 points and 5 assists with a scent of revenge.

While Madrid has lost the three games they have played in the Euroleague, Aleksander Sekulic's Barça has accumulated two victories. The Slovenian coach struck gold with the blaugrana bench on Besiktas' court (82-95). The substitute players of the Catalan team combined to score 47 points. The Turkish side squandered their chances with a very poor shot selection (29/76).

The coach who left Barça because he was suffering a lot defeated the blue and garnet team. Xavi Pascual's Dubai Basketball overcame the Culer side (94-87) and confirmed the predictions that place them among the contenders for the final four. Kevin Punter's good performance (25 points) did not find the complicity of his teammates, who lost concentration during a tragic second quarter. "I wasn't thinking about anything personal, but it was important to secure our second win," said the Catalan coach.

iLerna Lleida pulled off the big surprise at the Roig Arena, where they defeated Valencia Basket for the first time (100-105). The Lleida team overcame a 9-point deficit to spoil Nikola Mirotic's debut. Gerard Encuentra, the youngest coach in the Liga Endesa (he will turn 37 in January), moved his pieces with great intelligence. James Batemon and Darius McGhee combined for 44 points on the court of the reigning champion.

Born in Guédiawaye (Senegal), Eli Ndiaye's chances of ending up becoming a professional basketball player were slim. And yet, if it weren't for an injury, he would have made his NBA debut. "I started playing basketball when I was in a boarding school. When I returned home I kept playing and then Oumar Sow appeared, who proposed that I go to Europe. I didn't think twice. I had trials with Baskonia, but it didn't work out, and then Real Madrid appeared," explains Ndiaye to ARA, who at that time was only 13 years old.“When I started playing basketball my family struggled with it, because they wanted me to prioritize my studies, but when they understood that it is something I am passionate about they understood that it could also help me be more focused on my studies. My family has always helped me”, explains the Asisa Joventut player, who starts the Liga Endesa on Sunday on the court of Rio Breogan (12 p.m., TV3 and DAZN).“Before, basketball was less accessible in Senegal, but now there are many people betting on training and that is noticeable. There are many academies and more and more players are emerging. Basketball has opened up a great space in my country and people enjoy it more. Having players like Brancou Badio helps it become a very popular sport,” says Ndiaye with an enthusiasm that is contagious. It is hard to see him speak without smiling.

Of all the possible debuts, Barça chose the most exciting one. The blue and garnet team overcame a 15-point deficit against Anadolu Efes (89-82). A handful of good decisions by Kevin Punter and Justin Robinson in the final stretch decided a game in which the Culer team overcame the difference in free throws.Aleksander Sekulic made his debut on the local bench at the Palau with the absences of Yoan Makoundou, Tosan Evbuomwan and Josh Nebo, three key interior players in his schemes. The coach adapted his game plan and, incidentally, prepared a defensive plan to prevent Mike James, whom the club said they did not want when he had already agreed to his signing, from repeating a scenario similar to that of Nico Laprovittola.The club took advantage of the EuroLeague debut to celebrate the section's centenary with a handful of well-intentioned initiatives. Despite not having the presence of president Joan Laporta, the VIP box brought together many historical legends.

The cradle of basketball wrote one of the most emotional pages of its history with Asisa Joventut's victory against Barça in the Endesa Supercup final (101-87). Nico Laprovittola was the hero of a night that will be told from generation to generation. The Argentine, whom the blue and garnet club did not want to renew the previous summer, scored 31 points with 9/13 in three-pointers and 7 assists. "I am as tired as I am excited. I feel a great emotion. What we have experienced is stronger than what I imagined two months ago. I really wanted to win and we had a great opportunity. If you don't imagine things like this, they never happen," the MVP explained."I don't know how I will process all the memories. The person who put the most pressure on me was my daughter, who is five years old. Today was a different and special day because I had a lot of confidence. Whenever I shoot, I think the shot will go in. My game is like that, sometimes a little crazy. The idea is to continue writing more interesting chapters because the city of Badalona is really looking forward to it," said Lapro, who left Xavi Ballesteros, the journalist from Ràdio Ciutat de Badalona, speechless.

Nico Laprovittola never truly left Badalona. Seven years after leaving Penya to play for Madrid and Barça, the Argentine player starred in another memorable night wearing the green-and-black jersey. The shooting guard dominated with 27 points and 10 assists in Asisa Joventut's victory against Kosner Baskonia (96-84) and put the host team one step away from the Supercopa Endesa title. Their opponent in the final will be Barça. His former team.“We have done the job we wanted and the team has been very solid. We have a great opportunity and we must continue with the same mentality. If there is one thing I have had throughout my career it is confidence and the decision to return to Badalona was easy. I am in the place where I want to be,” analyzed Laprovittola. The Argentine counted on the complicity of Ricky Rubio, who added 13 points and 6 rebounds. “Laprovittola has played a great game. As a teammate and fan, it is very beautiful to see the magic he has in his hands. We are at a moment in our careers where we want to enjoy ourselves and I think we will do so this year. We want to continue with a project that is exciting and we are building great chemistry with the fans of Badalona,” acknowledged the Catalan.Asisa Joventut recovered from an 8-point deficit against Kosner Baskonia thanks to Laprovittola. The Argentine, who understood the semifinal like no one else, turned around the dynamics of the first half in a third quarter in which he spread his accuracy to a green-and-black team that did not waste its opportunity. “We started the season with a good game in front of our fans. We are far from our level, but Nico brings a lot of fuel to our game,” said Dani Miret, coach of Asisa Joventut. Kosner Baskonia went from more to less in a semifinal that became long for them. “We lacked a bit of energy and knowledge of the game,” lamented Paolo Galbiati, coach of the Basque team.