Into the final! Pesic’s Barça Lassa side overcame Herbalife Gran Canaria by 87-74 to book their place in the Sunday’s Copa del Rey showdown. The blaugranes continue their recent improvement thanks to a spectacular team effort with Heurtel in top form recording 13 points and 14 assists.
The game started with an intensity worthy of a cup semi-final. Barça Lassa began in fine form and nine unanswered points saw them take a 16-9 early lead with Koponen, Moerman and Sanders all contributing. Pesic’s team held their advantage, ending the first quarter with a 21-15 lead.
In the second quarter the home side briefly threatened to come back but two great three point shots from Pau Ribas saw Barça go 28-19 ahead. Nevertheless, Gran Canaria, led by former blaugrana Eriksson, scored 15-1 in a passage of play that meant the hosts were ahead 43-41 at the break.
In the second half a dunk from Hanga and a three pointer from Oriola switched momentum back in favour of the visitors. Barça scored 11 straight points without reply to go 59-49 ahead. Ribas, Navarro and Claver combined to give Pesic’s side their biggest lead of the evening at 68-56.
Gran Canaria threatened a comeback when they narrowed the deficit to just seven points at 72-65 but once again Oriola, Huertel and Hanga led from the front for the blaugranes to give Barça Lassa a famous 87-74 win. The blaugranes are now in their first Copa del Rey final for three years where they will face Real Madrid in the final in Las Palmas at 6.30pm CET on Sunday.
