Xavi Pascual's magic wand doesn't save Barça

BarcelonaNine and a half years after his last game as Barça coach, Xavi Pascual's second stint at the club began with a defeat on the court of Anadolu Efes, who overcame their absences (74-73). A controversial personal foul with three-tenths of a second remaining condemned a far too inconsistent Barça team that squandered a 13-point lead. Igor Kokoskov, missing key players like Larkin, Beaubois, Dozier, Poirier, and Papagiannis, made the most of a zone defense that exposed Barça's poor shooting. Pascual tried, with mixed success, to make players like Willy Hernangómez, Youssoupha Fall, and Miles Norris effective. The coach emphasized the Madrid-born center's role on offense to compensate for his defensive shortcomings. As in previous months, the team was inconsistent, combining promising moments with frustrating ones.

Before the quarter-hour mark, Pascual had already used all twelve players. The coach, who left Juani Marcos out of the squad, tried to ensure every member of the team was involved, a strategy that Òscar Orellana had already implemented. Struggling with their three-point shooting, Barça took some time to find their rhythm. After a close first quarter (18-19), the Blaugrana shifted gears to open up a significant lead (33-46). The Catalan team capitalized on the home team's turnovers, scoring 27 points in the second quarter.

A worrying 19-4 run in seven minutes worsened Barça's fortunes (54-50). Pascual personally experienced the inconsistency of a team that failed to maintain the momentum shown in the second period. The Barça team missed all seven of their three-point attempts, which strengthened the Turkish team's defense, allowing them to better protect their basket (58-55).

Nick Weiler-Babb was a nightmare for Barça, who entered the final three minutes trailing by five points (69-64). The final stretch was very exciting. Jan Vesely and Tomás Satoransky stepped up when their team needed them most, but two free throws by Isaia Cordinier with three-tenths of a second remaining punished the Barça team. The Catalan side lost the ball on their final possession.

A busy schedule

The schedule offers no respite, and Barça will play again on Sunday, when they visit Dreamland Gran Canaria in Las Palmas. A few days later, on Wednesday the 26th, Xavi Pascual will return to the Palau Blaugrana. The club wants to ensure a full house and has put tickets on sale with an 80% discount for its members. The game will have a strong emotional component, as Pascual spent eight seasons with the club. Fans still remember his nineteen titles and, especially, the 2010 EuroLeague championship.