Kevin Punter's emotional return to Belgrade saw Barcelona secure an 87-79 win over Partizan, but he called the team's near-collapse "unacceptable."
FC Barcelona's 87-79 victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet on Wednesday night was particularly special because it marked Kevin Punter's return to the Belgrade Arena.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
22
|
| Jabari Parker | |
| Points | 17 |
| Accuracy | 6-10 |
| Rebounds | 7 |
| Assists | 1 |
The former captain of the black and whites spent three memorable years in the Serbian capital, winning the hearts of Partizan fans along the way.
If Punter had any doubts about the love he still inspires, they were erased during the pre-game training session. A young girl approached him, hugged him, and burst into tears upon seeing her hero. Reflecting on the moment, Punter admitted he was taken by surprise.
"Such things keep me humble and down to earth," Punter shared with Mozzart Sport after the win in Belgrade. "I didn't expect to be in such a situation."
Punter dropped a team-high 18 points.
"We led by 23 points, Partizan reduced the deficit to one point. We have to be better, this is unacceptable, but we managed to win and finish the game, and that's the most important thing."
With Barcelona now sitting at 7-2 in the EuroLeague standings, the elite scorer spoke about the team's outlook for the rest of the season:
"To continue to dominate, to go one day at a time and stay together. We don't worry about other teams or stories about the Final Four. Our hard work needs to speak for itself. We're just taking it step by step," Punter stressed.
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