Liking each other a lot and a little more. This is how Gran Canaria closed its stupendous first phase of the Eurocup, the undisputed leader of a Group B that dominated with an iron fist and high-carat basketball. Today, moreover, Nor did they have to sweat excessively to get rid of Towers Hamburg, too weak (86-73).
Having Brussino in their squad is a guarantee of success for Granca when the Argentine is plugged in, which is something that, luckily for the island, almost always happens. Seven consecutive points from the Argentine international forward gave his team its first advantages, 8-7, his offensive torrent hardly answered by Ziga Samar, with a recent past in Fuenlabrada. So, The Slovenian exterior, with seven points of various colors at the beginning of the first quarter for the 12-10, prevented Granca from feeling comfortable. However, the locals gave a small stretch at the end of this act and, with two triples from Bassas and Slaugther, they were already beginning to mark a notable distance with the German team: 22-13.
It seemed that nothing would change at dawn in the second quarter, which began with another two triples, in this case by Samar himself and Slaughter. Probably confident, with first place in the group tied, Gran Canaria deflated, barely realizing it conceded a 0-12 run, cgraced by the active Polite, who again had him below on the scoreboard: 27-30.
He came to the rescue of the yellow team, of course, Nico Brussino. Thus, the 9 of the locals, 13 points at halftime, plugged in two consecutive times from beyond 6.75 to give Gran Canaria some air, which went into the break winning by a disturbing 41-33. The Argentine’s duel with Samar was being precious: If the first of them signed those 13 points plus two assists at halftime, the former from Fuenabrada recorded a 12+3.
The game ended, with no turning back, at the beginning of the third quarter, with the German team surrendering. Seven points from Benita’s pull shot Gran Canaria, 56-47, against a Hamburg in which only Samar showed his face (triple for 58-50, the third of his account, 17 points then). It was nothing but a mirage, because the locals, without too much fuss, hit a small stretch that earned them to blow up the game when the horn sounded at the end of the third quarter. Thus, that 69-53 lead Granca towards its 15th victory, in 18 games, of this first phase of the Eurocup. An atrocity.
There was hardly a story to tell in the last totally anecdotal period. If there is something, It would be the rush to find out how much Lakovic’s team would win, the sad Hamburg completely surrendered, which finally ended up being 13 points, an 86-73 that, if the insulars are really put, would have been much greater. Thus, with this training match, Gran Canaria closed its imperial trajectory in this first phase of the Eurocup. The home court factor is also ensured even in the final. But that will be another story, perhaps distant. Maybe not so much. In any case, it’s time to face Bursaspor in the round of 16 first.