An electrical system failure at the Olímpic de Badalona forced the suspension of the ACB clash between Joventut and Unicaja at halftime, with the hosts leading 53-33. The issue plagued the videoboard and other electronic elements of the arena, having already appeared before tip-off and resurfacing during the intermission. Despite efforts from technicians, referees, and club officials—including Joventut president Juanan Morales, who personally worked at the table to revive the system—the problem could not be resolved.
“The game has been suspended at halftime, with the score 53-33, due to the impossibility of fixing the existing technical issues with the electronic elements of the facility,” the ACB reported. Unicaja left the venue shortly after, with head coach Ibon Navarro visibly frustrated during the uncertainty over whether the game would continue. The decision was also influenced by the Andalusian team’s logistics, as they were scheduled to fly back to Málaga later that Saturday evening (with a 10:30 PM flight from Barcelona), with no alternative accommodation or transport available for the following day, according to Unicaja’s sporting director Juanma Rodríguez in a DAZN interview.
A first-half action from the Joventut-Unicaja game.
Enric Fontcuberta
“As we do for every game, we test the entire facility—including the videoboard—three hours before. Everything was working perfectly. Then, 45 minutes before tip-off, we were informed that one of the backboard indicators signaling the end of a period started malfunctioning, and then other things followed. There was no consistency with the console data on the screens. We managed to recover the system for the first half, but at halftime, something completely reconfigured itself and we couldn’t restore it. We are very frustrated. It doesn’t reflect the hard work many people put in at the arena day in and day out, but obviously today we couldn’t get the game done. We are already working on analyzing every component to fix it as soon as possible,” said a dejected Juanan Morales, the Joventut president.
The suspension creates a scheduling nightmare. The Basketball Champions League Final Four is set to take place in Badalona next week, from May 7 to 9, significantly reducing available windows to reschedule the game. It also sends a poor message about the Olímpic’s readiness as a Final Four host just five days away. The only feasible opening might come during the week of May 17 to 24, but that period is not fully clear either: the calendar has already been adjusted due to La Laguna Tenerife’s participation in the Final Four, with Joventut’s visit to Santiago Martín moved to May 20, adding further complexity.
Additionally, Joventut faces a packed schedule after the Final Four (May 14, 17, 24, and 29), while Unicaja also has demanding fixtures, making rescheduling the encounter a genuine puzzle.
Liga ACB | Jornada 28
Alocén gives Granca a lifeline.
Unicaja Málaga
Ibon Navarro’s urgent measures.
The game had already been delayed by about 25 minutes before tip-off due to the same electronic system issues, which were temporarily resolved but ultimately led to the definitive suspension.