A very good start for the Barça basketball team in the Lliga Catalana, with this 81-90 defeat of Morabanc Andorra 81-90 in Tarragona. This first match of the group stage saw Kevin Punter and Jan Vesely return, the latter after three months out, with Punter (16) and Willy Hernangómez (14) leading the scoring. Nikola Kusturica also featured, becoming the youngest ever to debut for the team aged 16 years, 4 months and 17 days old.

Early advantage taken

Barça started well, scoring six without reply. However, Andorra quickly redressed the balance through Shannon Evans triples. The rest of the quarter saw the teams exchanging baskets, but a buzzer beating three by Punter saw the score 20-23 after 10 minutes in a period when Vesely returned.

That triple provided the platform for Barça to score while Andorra had difficulties putting points on the board (29-38, min 17), and albeit two triples brought them closer (34-38, min 17), Barça stepped on the gas to go in 36-46 up at the break. Satoransky and Punter scored eight and seven in the half respectively.

Historic debut

Andorra may have won the third quarter 18-15 to draw closer (54-61, min 30), but with Willy Hernangómez dominating in the key and seven consecutive points by Clyburn, this first Lliga Catalana game decanted further towards the blaugranes (63-78, min 36), who went on to seal an 81-90 victory.

The match also featured a historic moment, as Nikola Kusturica, now in his third season at La Masia, became the youngest to debut for the Barça basketball team aged 16 years, 4 months and 17 days old, supplanting Èric Vila (16 years, 6 months and 29 days old). A reward for the small forward who had played in the previous two friendlies and a nice way to round off a great summer after winning and being named MVP at the U-16 EuroBasket.

Next up, Joventut Badalona in the same competition on 19 September at 9.00pm CEST.

GAME STATS

MORABANC ANDORRA 81
BARÇA 90

Andorra: Shannon Evans, Chumi Ortega, Kyle Kuric, Yves Pons, Morris Udeze - starting five - Aaron Best, Rafa Luz, Aaron Ganal, Ferran Bassas, Justin Mckoy, Ruben Guerrero, Pustovyi
Barça: Laprovittola, Cale, Clyburn, Norris, Hernangómez - starting five - Punter, Vesely, Satoransky, Fall, Parra, Sayon Keita, Nikola Kusturica

Quarters: 20-23, 16-23, 18-15, 27-29

Referees: Jordi Aliaga Solé, Arnau Padrós Feliu, Yasmina Alcaraz Moreno

Attendance: 1,407

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