MoraBanc Andorra Schedules Friendly vs UCAM Murcia After Strong Barça Showing

MoraBanc Andorra fell 88-84 to FC Barcelona in Tarragona's Palau d’Esports Catalunya during its second Lliga Catalana match, showing resilience despite 22 turnovers and the absence of injured guard Jaylen Akinjo.

Coach Žan Tabak's squad traded early threes to tie 6-6, with Artem Pustovyi opening the scoring. Barcelona pulled ahead via Joel Parra, Stanley Umude, Darío Brizuela, Umoja Gibson and Tyrese Martin, capping the first quarter at 28-16 on a 14-0 run and six triples while capitalizing on Andorra's lapses.

Kyle Kuric sparked the second period with seven straight points, including a booming three assisted by Rafa Luz, fueling a 12-4 push to trail 32-28. Barcelona countered inside with Jabari Parker—listed as Robertson in some accounts—reaching 44-34 before halftime at 52-37, led by Brizuela. Andorra improved on offensive boards.

Post-breakup, Kuric added 10 points and Aaron Best contributed, driving a 17-29 third-quarter surge with consecutive triples from Best and C.J. McGriff to close at 69-66—the tightest margin after a 15-point deficit. Fatigue told in the fourth as Barcelona's Robinson and Brizuela rebuilt a double-digit lead to 86-76. Leon Radošević's three-point play and Chumi Ortega's drive made it 88-84 with under 30 seconds remaining after Parra's missed frees and Kuric's make, though both sides stumbled late.

FC Barcelona (88): Robinson 11, Brizuela 19, Parra 14, Umude 5, Nebo 6; Gibson 9, Nkamhoua 5, Martin 16, Balcerowski 3, Núñez 0, Minaya 0, Ubal 0. 16/22 FT, 18/39 2PT, 12/32 3PT, 41 rebounds, 20 fouls.

MoraBanc Andorra (84): Luz 5, Robertson 5, Victor Ndoye Iwundu 11, McGriff 8, Pustovyi 6; Best 12, Mutic 9, Radosevic 5, Kuric 21 (top scorer with five rebounds, 24 valuation), Ortega 2, Aquino 0, Bottiroli 0. 12/15 FT, 21/42 2PT, 10/27 3PT, 37 rebounds, 26 fouls (Best disqualified).

Officials: Arnau Padrós, Alberto Baena, Andrés Fernández. Partials: 16-28, 37-52, 66-69, 84-88.

This capped the Lliga Catalana after a 74-83 opener loss to Kids&Us Manresa, where 22 turnovers erased a 23-12 edge; Robertson had 20, Pustovyi 19, McGriff 14 there.

Preseason included a narrow Barcelona defeat and 105-92 victory over Cheshire Phoenix. MoraBanc next faces UCAM Murcia in a Tuesday friendly at 19:30 in San Javier's Príncipe Felipe pavilion for the XXX Memorial García Zaragoza – Martínez Pardo, building toward the September 26 Lliga Endesa start.