Ehe Gran Canaria subdued Búsquet Girona in Fontajau in an erratic game that was decided in extra time (69-78). Jaka Lakovic’s men had a great second quarter and came to dominate by eleven points, but after resting on their laurels, they saw how the locals tied the game and even had a double option to win in the last moments of regulation time that they have not taken advantage of. In extra time, a highly inspired John Shurna (22 points) gave victory to the visitors, drilling the ring from the perimeter (6/10 T3).
The inaccuracies have staged the start of the game. Five minutes into the first half, the score was barely 2-2 and the hoop ejected -almost literally from within- the most unlikely baskets to the astonishment of the public. Both teams have had a hard time finding unmarked men and have been tremendously erratic.
The match has progressed in fits and starts until Slaughter has unblocked the yellows from the perimeter. Marc Gasol has come to the rescue of the locals, dominating the rebound and holding up the score for the Catalan squad. Shurna woke up from the line of three and spurred on his team while Fjellerup responded by cutting the gap to leave Ato’s men within five points (33-38).
After the break, a partial of 0-5 has placed a maximum difference of eleven points in favor of the canaries. Girona has afflicted Miletic’s poor performance and, despite having a vindicated Sorolla, it seemed that Ato’s players were incapable of putting on one more gear. The canaries have slowed down and have given wings to the locals, who have fully immersed themselves in the game thanks to Gasol and Taylor (56-57). With three minutes to go, Eric Vila has put the equity on the scoreboard (58-58).
Oriola, from the perimeter, turned the score around (61-58) and Taylor maintained the difference with a jump shot. Fontajau has become a pressure cooker, but Salv’s pulse has not trembled and he has closed the gap from the personal line (63-62) with 55 seconds still on the line. Albicy has tied the game from personal (63-63) to force the extra time and some tachycardia among the public.
In the added time, Shurna has turned the score around (65-66) stabbing with a triple and Oriola has returned to return the equity. Shurna, with his particular shooting mechanics, has drilled the ring from the perimeter and Diop has dunked the ring to extend the distance to five (66-71). A loss of the ball has given wings to Gran Canaria which, once again thanks to Shurna, has sentenced the options of the locals (66-73).
Technical sheet:
69 – Basketball Girona (12+19+11+19+6): Colom (6), Taylor (13), Garino (2), Prkacin (2), Gasol (13) -starting five-; Vila (4), Oriola (10), Fjellerup (8), Sorolla (6), Miletic (2), Figueras (-) and Franch (3).
78 – Gran Canaria (10+28+14+11+15): Albicy (5), Salughter (8), Brussino (-), Shurna (22), Balcerowski (7) -cinco inicial-; Diop (2), Salv (13), Benite (8), Bassas (10) and Inglis (3).
arbitrators: Garcia González, Castillo y González.
Incidences: Match of the eighth day of the group stage of the Endesa League, played in front of 5,022 fans at the Fontajau Pavilion, in Girona.
