FC Barcelona Lassa v Panathinaikos Superfoods: European debut win (98-71)

FC Barcelona Lassa v Panathinaikos Superfoods: European debut win (98-71)

Sito Alonso's players secure a clear victory in the first game of the 2017/18 Euroleague campaign against the Greek champions

Barça Lassa beat Panathinaikos 98-71 in a convincing team performance from all the blaugranas. Sito Alonso’s men were able to stamp their authority on the game through their intensity and accuracy.

An 11-0 lead in the opening three minutes of the third quarter were decisive in swinging the game Barça Lassa’s way. Kevin Seraphin, with 24 points, and Moerman, with 16 points, were the standout performers in a game which Rakin Sanders missed through injury.

The game started with an efficient opening from Panathinaikos, who scored in their first three attacks and were 6.0 up early on. Serpahin scored the first basket and he architected his team’s response to the Greek’s fast start. Moerman then scored a three pointer to make it 6-5.

Barça Lassa had good levels of intensity in defence but Panathinaikos were clinical when they did get through. Sito Alonso’s men were also scoring regularly and they were 15-12 up in the seventh minute. The team from Barcelona maintained the lead through good defence and a clinical attack led by Kevin Seraphin.

The second quarter started with a three pointer from Kononen which put Barça seven points ahead (27-20). The blaugranas maintained their lead through the second half until the Greek team cut the distance down to five points at 40-35 by the break.

Brilliant attacking period

Barça Lassa managed to score 11 unanswered points in three minutes at the start of the third quarter (51-35, min 23). This set them up with a comfortable lead. In the 25th minute, Ante Tomic came on for Seraphin. The Greek team managed to recover to get within 10 points but the blaugranas kept Panathinaikos at bay after that and they finished the quarter with an 11-point lead (65-54).

Barça Lassa demonstrated once more their intensity and fight as they fought hard for every rebound and produced some amazing attacking moves. Sito Alonso’s men recovered their 16-point advantage through moving the ball well, maintaining their discipline in defence and counter-attacking at speed (70-54, min 32).

The blaugranes continued to extend their lead until it was over 20 points by the end of the match. The 98-71 scoreline meant Barça Lassa had their first European victory of the campaign in their first Euroleague match. On Sunday, they take on Obradoiro in the Endesa League at 7.00pm CET.

Força Barça
Força Barça

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