ACB Playoffs: Barcelona Eliminates UCAM Murcia, Advances to Semifinals Against Tenerife

MURCIA. Barcelona delivered a dominant performance when it mattered most, defeating UCAM Murcia 76-100 to secure their spot in the ACB Liga Endesa semifinals. The Blaugrana showed authority in the decisive third game of the quarterfinals, controlling the game through offensive efficiency, withstanding the local comeback attempt, and ultimately imposing their depth against a rival hampered by the absence of David DeJulius on a crucial night.

Head coach Xavi Pascual's team will now face La Laguna Tenerife, who had just eliminated Real Madrid, in a semifinal matchup where Barcelona will have home-court advantage. The series begins this Tuesday at the Palau Blaugrana.

The game started with pace and UCAM Murcia trying to lean on one of their main strengths: the three-pointer. Radebaugh and Raieste found success from beyond the arc in the opening minutes, but Barcelona's response was immediate. Will Clyburn set the tone from the start, aggressive, accurate, and with an offensive clarity he had rarely shown with such consistency this season. Alongside him, Kevin Punter also entered the game early, and Barcelona began building leads through an exchange of blows that clearly favored the visitors.

The first quarter already sent a strong signal. A three-pointer from Satoransky and a dunk from Clyburn pushed Barcelona's lead to ten points by the end of the period, with the 17-27 scoreline reflecting the gap between a solid Barcelona and a UCAM side that couldn't maintain the defensive level they had shown in the second game of the series.

Sito Alonso looked for alternatives and occasionally turned to zone defense, a formula that had indeed troubled Barcelona in Barcelona. In Murcia, it gave the local team some momentum during the second quarter. Cacok took advantage of his interior presence, punished near the basket, and even created powerful plays against Barcelona's big men. UCAM cut the deficit and got within two points, 34-36, after a basket from Kelan Martin that forced Pascual to call a timeout.

That's when Nico Laprovittola appeared. The Argentine, returning at a critical moment, made his first three-point attempt and changed the tone of the game once again. Barcelona found rhythm against the zone, recovered fluidity, and strung together a devastating run. Vesely, Punter, and a very active Joel Parra completed a 2-16 run that broke the final stretch of the second quarter and sent the game to halftime at 36-52, leaving the Murcia team badly shaken.

Far from simply managing their lead, Barcelona maintained control after the break. Clyburn continued to be the main offensive focal point, with 23 points in a hugely impactful performance, while Laprovittola provided direction and control to keep the Blaugrana organized. UCAM tried to find continuity through Forrest and Cacok, but each attempt to close the gap met with a visiting response. Moreover, Cacok, one of the players causing the most problems near the basket, was hampered by fouls, which further reduced the local team's margin.

By the end of the third quarter, Barcelona led by 18 points, 61-79. The gap was wide and, most importantly, the feeling was one of complete control. The Palacio de los Deportes in Murcia, pushed throughout the series by a passionate crowd, gradually quieted as it became clear their team was slipping away.

The fourth quarter didn't change the script. Barcelona defended their lead without trouble, continued finding points, and finished with a final score of 76-100. UCAM, despite their effort, couldn't sustain the demands of the most important game of the series without their starting point guard. Michael Forrest, with 20 points, and Cacok, with 16, were their main offensive weapons, but they weren't enough to stop a Barcelona team that had too many answers.

Clyburn led the victory with 23 points in his most brilliant performance of the season. Kevin Punter and Nico Laprovittola added 14 each, Shengelia contributed 12, and Vesely provided 11 in a balanced Barcelona rotation that was far more recognizable than in the second game. For UCAM, besides Forrest and Cacok, Radebaugh reached 15 points.

Barcelona has earned their spot in the semifinals after overcoming a demanding and unpredictable series, sealed with a dominant display in Murcia when there was no room for error. Now they face La Laguna Tenerife, the team that eliminated Real Madrid, in a matchup that promises another maximum-difficulty test.