Barcelona claimed victory in their EuroLeague debut, edging Anadolu Efes 89-82 in a hard-fought contest. Veterans Darío Brizuela (20 points) and Kevin Punter (19 points) proved crucial to the Blaugrana's triumph, which came in their centennial season. Alexander Sekulic's squad overcame a poor start to secure their first win.
The opening minutes were a nightmare for Barcelona. Anadolu Efes came out firing, and in what felt like no time, they had built a commanding lead (4-19 at the 4-minute mark). Bruno Fernando's dominance in the paint and Darío Saric's shooting accuracy (7 points) set off alarm bells at the Palau.
Alexander Sekulic made adjustments from the bench, searching for a response from his team, who hadn't entered the game with the intensity required for a EuroLeague matchup. Stanley Umude's (4 points) two-way effort paid dividends, and Barcelona crept closer (13-22 at the 8-minute mark). However, a three-point play from Mike James, one of the summer's notable signings, halted the Blaugrana's comeback attempt. The absence of Josh Nebo in the paint was being felt. The first quarter ended 16-25 in favor of the Turkish squad.
Barcelona improved in the second quarter. Umoja Gibson's intensity, combined with Kevin Punter's scoring (6 points), brought the Blaugrana within five (31-36 at the 17-minute mark). Pablo Laso's team wasn't finding the accuracy they had in the opening quarter, and the deficit narrowed.
Midway through the second quarter, Darío Brizuela (10 points) caught fire. A three-pointer from Brizuela tied the game at 42 with 30 seconds left before halftime. Barcelona had weathered the initial storm. But Brizuela wasn't done—another three-pointer (13 points) put the Blaugrana ahead for the first time in the game (45-44 at the 20-minute mark). The teams went into halftime with the Palau Blaugrana in a state of euphoria.
After the break, the game remained tightly contested. Darío Saric (15 points) and Mike James (16 points) led Efes's offensive charge, while Darío Brizuela (16 points) continued his hot shooting. The game had more drama than beautiful basketball, but neither team would give an inch. A buzzer-beater from Ercan Osmani left the score at 63-67 for Efes at the end of the third quarter.
Kevin Punter's three-pointer to start the fourth quarter was a good sign for Barcelona. Justin Minaya's defense on Mike James was paying dividends, and Sekulic's team pulled within one (72-73 at the 34-minute mark). The Blaugrana weren't playing the most fluid basketball, with just 9 assists through 35 minutes, but they remained very much in the game.
A three-pointer from the previously quiet Tyrese Martin tied the game at 77 with two and a half minutes remaining. The tension was palpable on the Palau floor.
Barcelona seemed to gain momentum down the stretch. A spectacular dunk from Oleg Balcerowski put the Blaugrana up three (83-80 at the 38-minute mark). The momentum remained with Barcelona. With 49 seconds left, Justin Robinson (7 points) hit a crucial three-pointer (86-82 at the 39-minute mark).
The Blaugrana, with the Palau fully behind them, managed the final moments better. Mike James (22 points), who had kept Efes afloat at times, finished frustrated. Barcelona's EuroLeague debut ended in a 89-82 victory.