overcome physically
The Barca team faced a tense battle on a newly elevated stage as Zunder Palencia delivered a standout performance, narrowly clinching the win in overtime with a final score of 83-84. The victory hinged on a late surge from Palencia and key moments from Nicolas Laprovittola and Willy Hernangómez, who anchored the decisive stretch. Coach Roger Grimau’s squad had just navigated a grueling test against Real Madrid at the Wizink Center and arrived at the Palencia Arena the day after. The rhythm of the game was hard to control, and Barca often found themselves reacting to Palencia’s pace rather than dictating the tempo.
“The character shown at the end was the best part, given how tough this was,” Grimau commented. “We must keep improving. We couldn’t dominate the pace and couldn’t control the flow; we played to Palencia’s strengths,” he added with a candid assessment. Laprovittola, who poured in 20 points and delivered the pivotal overtime basket, admitted that luck played a role in the sequence that sent the game to extra time. “We were fortunate in that moment”, he said about the decisive play.
Notable exchanges on the floor reflected the intensity: a hard-charging Palencia and a Barca defense that was tested repeatedly by the opponent’s speed and aggressive rebounding. The crowd’s energy in the Arena underscored the drama of a season opener that promised plenty of physicality and competitiveness in the early stages of the elite league. In the closing seconds of regulation, Barca trailed by three as Laprovittola converted the first of two free throws but missed the second. The ball ricocheted back to him, and he converted the overtime basket, a moment greeted by the crowd with a mixture of relief and applause as the game reached 72-72.
Barça faced a difficult stretch where the host team pressed hard, challenging every possession and testing the defense with relentless drives. The home team built a seven-point cushion in the final minutes, but the visitors responded with composure. Palencia’s resilience helped keep Barca within striking distance, and Grimau leaned on the group’s energy and grit to stay in the fight as the clock wound down. The late surge in overtime, forged by Laprovittola and Hernangómez, proved decisive, lifting Barca to a hard-earned victory on the road and setting a confident tone for the early phase of the season.
The encounter showcased a mix of individual brilliance and collective resolve. Harms presented a formidable challenge at the rim with shot-blocking and interior presence, while Hernangómez and Laprovittola combined for the bulk of the scoring, each contributing critical points when the game mattered most. The effort extended beyond the box score, reflecting the team’s willingness to push through fatigue and maintain focus in the crucible of a close, high-stakes contest.
With Satoransky hitting timely triples and Palencia displaying leadership in the final minutes and beyond, the game’s momentum swung multiple times. The final sequence demonstrated the importance of maintaining composure under pressure, a hallmark of teams aiming for sustained success through a demanding schedule. The victory was earned not merely by talent but by the willingness to grind through fatigue, contest tough shots, and convert late opportunities into tangible results.
data sheet
83 – Zunder Palencia (18, 7, 23, 24, 11): Ortega (4), Brown (21), Benite (10), Pasecniks (0), Leissner (0) – in the top five –, Franke (19), Haarms (13), Van der Vuurst (6), Kamba (5), Manu (-), Ubal (0), Ndiaye (5).
84 – FC Barcelona (19, 15, 16, 22, 12): Da Silva (0), Kalinic (4), Satoransky (9), Hernangómez (21), Laprovittola (20) – in the top five –, Paulí (0), Brizuela (0), Abrines (9), Parker (8), Nnaji (0), Jokubaitis (4), Parra (9).
Referees: Miguel Ángel Pérez, Carlos Cortés and Fabio Fernández. The match drew approximately 5,200 spectators at the Palencia Municipal Pavilion on the second day of the Endesa League season.