Barça 96-86 Tenerife: Semi-finals a step closer

Win in the first quarter-finals play-off game for Barça against Tenerife (96-86). The blaugranes managed the final quarter well to get off on the right foot in the hunt for the Liga title, with the visitors constantly applying pressure from the beyond the three-point line.

Mid-range accuracy

Roger Grimau included Joel Parra in the starting five, making the most of his physical superiority and match ups, and the number 44 began by assisting Jabari Parker twice, who proved effective from the perimeter (11 points in the first quarter). Barça started lively, with Vesely and Parra both having a good first quarter, but Kyle Guy kept the visitors in the game.

The guard scored 12 of his side's first 16 points, but the blaugranes scored 10 without reply to end the quarter with a good lead (28-16). The Catalans achieved their biggest lead of the game early in the second, going +16 (35-19). However, Marcelinho Huertas was followed by Kyle Guy in keeping up the scoring for the Canary Islanders.

Abrines and Kyle Guy trade threes

Unstoppable from the three-point line, he brought the visitors to 42-41, before Abrines scored two vital threes to restore a bigger lead (50-46). The third quarter saw both sides scoring constantly, with Kyle Guy again doing the damage from downtown for Tenerife. Captain Àlex Abrines again stepped up for the blaugranes and Willy grabbed some vital points from in the paint.

Cool heads seal the win

A great buzzer beater by Parker tied the score before the final quarter (72-72), and it looked like a tense finish was on the cards despite a good start to the quarter (80-75), as Tenerife went ahead after a six point run. However, just when needed, Barça showed composure to attack inside Kyle Guy to go up 93-83, before seeing out the game to win 96-86.

The victory means the blaugranes have two chances to get through to the next round, the first in Tenerife on Thursday (8.30 pm CEST), and then at the Palau on Sunday if needed (12.30pm CEST).

Game stats

Barça: 96
Tenerife: 86

Barça: Rubio (2), Laprovittola (9), Parra (9), Parker (23), Vesely (10) - starting five - Da Silva (5), Brizuela (0), Kalinic (5), Satoransky (8), Hernangómez (4), Abrines (19) and Jokubaitis (2).

Tenerife: Huertas (17), Guy (34), Abromaitis (4), Cook (6), Guerra (13) - starting five - Vicedo (3), Fitipaldo (0), Salin (0), Diop (0). Stevic (3), Sastre (0) and Álex López (6).

Quarters: 28-16, 50-36, 72-72, 96-86.

Referees: Benjamín Jiménez, Luís M. Castillo and Yasmina Alcaraz.