The Peña plants the cradle flag in Europe
Asisa Joventut runs over AEK Athens and ties the European tie
BadalonaWhen Badalona hits hard, Penya dreams big. Asisa Joventut steamrolled AEK Athens to plant their flag in Europe, putting them one win away from the Basketball Champions League Final Four. Led by Ricky Rubio, the home team put on a display of strength (88-66). The quarter-final tie, currently level at one win each, will be decided on Wednesday in Greece.
AEK, aiming to play in the European NBA, left their yellow jerseys in Athens and only traveled with the black ones. FIBA asked Penya not to play in their traditional green and black kit, but the Catalan club, aware it was a historic night, did not accept.
The Palau Olímpic traveled back in time and transformed into the mythical Ausiàs March Pavilion. The fans reveled in a victory that will be recounted every time someone asks about the green and black DNA. A few dozen Greek fans, who ended up fighting amongst themselves and filling the venue with tobacco smoke, occupied one of the upper stands of a arena that heightened security measures.
Dani Miret, who again had the absences of Guillem Vives, Ante Tomic and Simon Birgander, was able to use Cameron Hunt. The coach once again succeeded with a plan as brave as it was well-worked. La Penya took advantage of the initial adrenaline to start the game by opening a significant gap. The verdinegra difference reached 26 points during a first half that local fans will take a long time to forget (51-25). AEK tried to reconnect with the game by increasing their defensive level, but they reached halftime with a very unfavorable scenario (53-31).
Ricky Rubio, who understood like no one else what the game meant, made sure that Asisa Joventut did not come out relaxed after the break. Dragan Sakota forced his expulsion to try to shake up the night emotionally, but La Penya reached the last ten minutes with the upper hand (72-55).
AEK's comeback added emotion to a game that La Penya did not deserve to lose.
Bitter night at the Palau Blaugrana
A Barça still without Tomás Satoransky could not compete against Panathinaikos (79-93). An 18-0 with the match already decided flattered the scoreboard. The Barça fans expressed their displeasure, as the Catalan team came to lose by 31 points difference against a much superior opponent.
The defeat complicates Barça's qualification for the play-offs for the Euroleague title and, moreover, does not guarantee their presence in the repechage.