Dreamland Gran Canaria adds an important victory in a very tough match with emotion until the end.
A great basketball game began at the Martín Carpena. Unicaja and Dreamland Gran Canaria, once again, face to face. John Shurna opened the scoring for the yellow team with a mid-turn basket, the power forward’s trademark. Lakovic and his team knew the complicated mission that awaited them in Malaga, a great match was beginning, although with several errors in both squads in the initial stages. Joe Thomason started at a very high pace, placing a great block and scoring from the perimeter to make it 4-8 in the first minutes. Nico Brussino and Andrew Albicy also scored their first points of the game. First quarter of intensity, high level. The locals hit the target again from the triple and made it 12-12. The match entered the final stretch with a great triple by Caleb Homesley (12-15). The Martín Carpena was experiencing a great battle, with two teams fueling little by little. First quarter, 17-17.
Second quarter at Carpena, the two teams fighting. Caleb Homesley appeared again on the scene to score two consecutive baskets. The shooting guard already had seven points in his personal account, also registering good shooting percentages. 22-22 and seven minutes until halftime. Dreamland Gran Canaria and Unicaja were meeting expectations and were giving a great game to the public present at the Carpena. Pierre Pelos and Andrew Albicy, with a basket and a triple, maintained the yellows’ advantage, but Kalinoski would arrive with a triple (30-29) and force Jaka Lakovic to call a timeout. Both teams entered the final minutes of the first half. Less than two minutes before halftime, the tie remained. Victory could fall on anyone’s side. The last stretch of the quarter would be marked by a technical foul against Jaka Lakovic and a +5 achieved by Ibón Navarro’s team. Twenty minutes, 40-37, and teams to the locker room.
Dreamland Gran Canaria went out for the second half. Andrew Albicy scored from three, the yellows did not want to lose face in the match. Maximum equality, 43-42. In the Malaga squad, Perry was the highest rated, leading his team in scoring. On the other hand, in the Canary Islands team, George Conditt IV recorded a rating of 11. A very important victory was at stake, the tension increased as the minutes passed. The yellows managed to turn the score around thanks to several consecutive actions by George Conditt, scoring and rebounding. At 45-50, Ibón Navarro had to call a timeout, a delicate moment for Unicaja. Nico Brussino was not going to be left behind. The Argentine added from the perimeter, scoring two almost consecutive triples. Less than four minutes left in the quarter, 52-56. Unicaja had not said his last word, and little by little he managed to get closer to the Canaries. A three-pointer by John Shurna almost at the buzzer made it 64-63 at the end of the third quarter.
John Shurna opened the scoring in the fourth quarter with a triple (64-66). The two teams were involved in a great contest in Malaga. Just over seven minutes left in the game and Dreamland Gran Canaria was still ahead on the scoreboard. Andrew Albicy made it 66-71 with a great triple. Exchange of blows, Dreamland Gran Canaria attacked, Unicaja quickly responded. John brought the entire yellow bench to their feet with a new three-point shot. 72-79 and just over four minutes to go until the end of the game. Carpena roared, the tension at its maximum, and even more so when Ibón Navarro was sent off with two technicals.
Last leg of the game, the victory in the hands of the yellows. The yellow team fought until the last second and culminated a great performance with an important victory.