In Barcelona, against a team unbeaten in the Top 16, the outcome is favorable to the hosts 80-70. Olimpia plays a solid game defensively for three quarters, the execution is good and it fights also against foul troubles and the physicality of Barcelona. The game is breaking in two during the fourth quarter by Barcelona’s shooting, with six triples in the period and 13 points made by Brad Oleson. EA7 was proud enough to standing up to the first knockout punch, getting back and tying the game at 60. But the second devastating punch was also decisive. Barcelona scored 31 points in the fourth. Olimpia lost the game but it was a very good game, basically with no Alessandro Gentile (the night before he experienced flu-like symptoms, was recovered at the last minute but he couldn’t be effective). It’s 3-3 now in the Top 16 and will have two crucial games against Malaga and Panathinaikos, now.
THE FIRST HALF – It takes some minutes for Olimpia to score but it finds several players capable to do it and the three made by CJ Wallace marks the first lead, 7-6 while Barcelona has got four Navarro’s points out of a couple of great individual plays. EA7 leads by four (12-8) after a Lawal’s dunk converting an offensive rebound. At the end of the first, in spite of Moss having two fouls, Olimpia is up 15-12 because of a great dfeensive effort. Early in the second the lead goes up to five three times (twice after Langford’s scores, one because of mid-range pull-up jumper by Jerrells). Two big plays by Sada open a Barcelona’s run, Abrines from the arc ties it up at 25 and again Sada after a three-point play brings Barcelona up again. In a moment, Barcelona takes a five-point lead, 30-25, but Olimpia responds. Samuels completes a three-point play, then Langford makes a three and Cerella also for the new lead (34-32). Lawal completes another three-point play with 1.5 seconds remaining and at the half it’s 37-35 Olimpia.
THE SECOND HALF – The game becomes immediately very physical and rough. Barcelona is riding the Ante Tomic’s height inside. Olimpia scores on three with Jerrells and Moss. David pushes the lead to 45-39. Barcelona responds, Marcelinho scores on two creative shots, Dorsey dunks, in the middle there’s a big dunk from Hackett. But after a time-out, the defense is tough, Samuels drew a foul, makes the foul shots and it’s 52-49 Olimpia at the end of the third. But Barcelona starts the fourth with three consecutive threes, Olimpis takes the first pucnh and thanks to two great plays by Keith Lanford, including a three with the shot-clock expiring, it’s still 60-60. Oleson scores five consecutive points and in the middkle of the fourtg BArcelona is again up by five, 65-60 and then eight, 70-62. Langford makes a three-point play and it’s Olimpia down by five again with two minutes and half remaining. Then Jerrells makes a thres but Barcelona keeps scoring, Oleson scores 13 points in the last period and  the last rally is impossible to complete.