Barca build early lead, ease past Valencia in Super Cup semi-final / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Barca Basket Credit Barca Basket

Endesa Super Cup started without surprises. FC Barcelona prevailed over Valencia Basket 87-68 (27-16, 18-12, 22-16, 20-24).

Valencia started the game better and gained an 8-3 lead thanks to Hermannsson and Dubljevic but Barca responded quickly with a 16-0 run. The Catalans used Valencia's turnovers, so Calathes and Higgins could run into fast breaks. Hayes and Laprovittola also added threes in transitions. The oranges made 10 turnovers in the first 10 minutes of playing time. Barca were in front by 11 points after the first period (27-16).

Barcelona did not stop in the second. They stacked an advantage of 17 points after Jokubaitis and Martinez baskets (37-20). Brandon Davies was dominating under the basket (11 PTS in 2 quarters) as Valencia had rotation troubles in power forward and center positions. Jasiel Rivero and Louis Labeyrie could not participate in the game. Jasikevicius' men finished the first half with 17 points lead (45-28).

After 5 points in a row by Mirotic, Barca's advantage reached 24 points (56-32). However, the Slovenian duo (Prepelic and Tobey), Hermannsson, Puerto reduced the deficit to 16 points (60-44). It was a short-term positivity, the Catalans finished the quarter strong with a 7-0 run (67-44).

In the last period, both teams were exchanging successful attacks. Barca's Jokubaitis, Smits, and Valencia's Prepelic were the most noticeable players on the court. FC Barcelona secured a convincing victory and advanced to the final. They will meet either Lenovo Tenerife or Real Madrid.

Barcelona: Brandon Davies 15 (5 REB), Cory Higgins 13, Rolands Smits 10, Nicolas Laprovittola 9, Rokas Jokubaitis 8, Nigel Hayes-Davis 7, Nikola Mirotic 7

Valencia: Martin Hermannsson 11, Josep Puerto 11 (4 REB), Jaime Pradilla 10, Mike Tobey 9 (5 REB), Klemen Prepelic 9.

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