Alba Berlin are bottom of the league but all the same this was an important and much-needed win on the road for FC Barcelona, who are now 15-13 and ninth, which is enough to ensure, as things stand, a place in the playoffs.
Tough test
With none of Kevin Punter, Jan Vesely, Juan Núñez or Nicolás Laprovittola in the side, this was never going to be an easy trip, and it was the Germans who had the edge at the end of the first period (20-18).
Little changed in the second, but Barça finally sprang to life as half-time approached and scores from Fall and Brizuela meant they were finally ahead in time for the break (39-41).
There in the end
Barça were finally in control and started moving further and further ahead, but an 8-0 streak from Berlin undid all that progress and there was nothing to choose between the sides as we went into the final ten minutes (64-66).
It looked like the final period was going to be a tight, gritty battle, but it turned out to be anything but. Willy and Metu in particular came into their own as Barça surged into a big, big lead, eventually by 14 points and just one short of 100.
Next up it's a date at the Palau Blaugrana with the team that knocked Barça out of the cup... La Laguna Tenerife.
MATCH STATS
ALBA BERLIN, 85
BARÇA 99
Alba Berlin: Procida (8), McDowell-White (4), Thomas (12), Bean (5), McCormack (11),Spagnolo (8), Wetzell (15), Delow (2), Hermannsson (9), Olinde (2), Baker II (4), Rapieque (5)
Barça: Satoransky (9), Anderson (5), Abrines (-), Parker (21), Fall (13), Sarr (3), Brizuela (13), Metu (11), Hernangómez (15), Parra (9).
Periods: 20-18, 23-19 // 25-25, 21-33
Referees: Carmelo Paternico, Ioannis Foufis, Tomasz Trawicki
