Barcelona opened the ACB Endesa League Playoffs semifinals with a dominant victory over La Laguna Tenerife (100-67), controlling the game from start to finish under head coach Xavi Pascual. The Blaugrana take a 1-0 series lead with an all-around performance marked by defensive solidity, rebounding control, and three-point accuracy.
The Catalan side came out to the Palau Blaugrana with an extra gear. From the opening tip, they imposed physicality, pace, and focus, leaving La Laguna Tenerife with barely any chance to get into the game. The team coached by Txus Vidorreta, coming off an upset victory over Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, found no offensive rhythm and suffered especially from three-point range, making just 3 of 18 attempts.
Barcelona built its victory from the perimeter. They shut down two of the black-and-gold team's primary playmakers, Marcelinho Huertas and Patty Mills, and punished every defensive lapse with a solid night from beyond the arc: 13 three-pointers on 27 attempts. Additionally, the hosts dominated the boards with 41 rebounds compared to 28 for their opponents.
Toko Shengelia, with 14 points and a rating of 23, was one of the standout performers in Barcelona's dominant display. Darío Brizuela, with 18 points, also played a key role, especially in the second half when the Blaugrana allowed no serious comeback attempts from the visitors.
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The first half already put the game out of reach. Barcelona closed the first quarter with a lead (19-11) and definitively broke open the contest in the second period, powered by the energy of their bench unit and the three-point accuracy of players like Laprovittola. At halftime, the scoreboard showed a commanding 46-27.
La Laguna Tenerife tried to find some breathing room after the break with the return of Marcelinho Huertas, but Barcelona maintained control with Shengelia shooting from outside, Youssoupha Fall operating near the basket, and Brizuela adding points to extend the lead to 72-48 at the end of the third quarter.
The final period had little drama. With the series already in hand after the opening game, both coaches used the time to distribute minutes and rest key players. Willy Hernangómez, with minimal playing time during these playoffs, saw action and contributed 8 points in a comfortable final stretch for the Blaugrana.
Barcelona closed out the victory with a 33-point margin and will have the chance this Thursday, again at the Palau Blaugrana, to take a 2-0 series lead. La Laguna Tenerife, meanwhile, will need to rediscover the competitive form that allowed them to pull off the upset against Real Madrid if they want to return home with any hope.