Four Teams, Four Games: The Desperate Fight to Avoid Relegation in the ACB

In the high-stakes world of Spanish professional basketball, the margin between survival and catastrophe has shrunk to a razor’s edge. As the Liga Endesa regular season enters its final stretch, four clubs find themselves locked in a mathematical deadlock, fighting to avoid relegation in the ACB during a sprint finish that has left fans and executives breathless.

With only four matchdays remaining before the curtain falls on the regular season on May 25, the battle for survival has become a psychological war of attrition. Currently, Dreamland Gran Canaria, MoraBanc Andorra, Casademont Zaragoza, and San Pablo Burgos are all tied with nine victories apiece. For these four projects—which vary wildly in budget and sporting ambition—the next two weeks will determine whether they remain in Europe’s most competitive domestic league or suffer the financial and sporting blow of a drop to the Primera FEB.

The Nine-Win Deadlock

The current standings have created a volatile environment where a single missed free throw or a late-game turnover could be the difference between stability and relegation. The tension is amplified by the fact that two teams will be relegated to the second tier this season. While some clubs have managed to carve out a slight breathing room, the quartet of Gran Canaria, Andorra, Zaragoza, and Burgos are effectively staring into the abyss together.

For the global observer, the ACB is widely regarded as the strongest league in Europe outside of the NBA. Relegation here is not merely a sporting setback; it is a financial crisis. The loss of television revenue, sponsorship devaluation, and the inevitable exodus of top-tier talent make the fight to stay up far more desperate than a typical mid-table struggle.

While these four are tied, others are watching nervously. BAXI Manresa and Hiopos Lleida have managed to secure a slim advantage. As of early May, Manresa held 11 victories and Lleida 10, positioning them as the favorites to survive, though they remain within striking distance of the danger zone should they stumble in their final appearances.

The Fall of Dreamland Gran Canaria

Perhaps the most shocking narrative of the 2025-26 season is the collapse of Dreamland Gran Canaria. Only a year ago, the club was a powerhouse, reaching the EuroCup final and maintaining a consistent presence in the ACB playoffs. Their current predicament—fighting for survival with only nine wins in 30 games—is a sporting tragedy of significant proportions.

The club’s management has attempted a series of “emergency” interventions to stop the bleeding. In a move to spark a revival, the team replaced head coach Jaka Lakovic with Argentine strategist Néstor Che García. The hope is that García can provide the tactical shock necessary to navigate the final four games.

To support the new coaching regime, the front office has integrated several key reinforcements. The arrivals of Chimezie Metu, Brandon Jefferson, and Kassius Robertson were intended to patch a roster that failed to produce cohesive results for much of the year. However, these additions are coming late in the game, and the pressure on the squad is immense.

The stakes for Gran Canaria are higher than for almost anyone else in the relegation scrap. Given their status, budget, and infrastructure, falling to the Primera FEB would be an institutional disaster for the club’s president, Sitapha Savane.

The Outliers: Granada’s Impossible Climb

While the four-team deadlock dominates the headlines, Covirán Granada finds itself in an even more precarious position. For much of the season, Granada has been the league’s punching bag, winning only one of their first 21 matches. For them, the quest to stay in the top flight has moved from “difficult” to “nearly impossible.”

Despite the bleak numbers, Granada continues to fight, occasionally producing upset results that keep their mathematical hopes flickering. However, for the majority of analysts, Granada is the primary candidate for the drop, leaving the second relegation spot to be contested by the four teams tied at nine wins.

The Path to Survival: Key Fixtures and Math

The road to safety is paved with direct confrontations. In the ACB, “six-pointer” games—matches where two relegation rivals face off—are the only ones that truly matter at this stage. A win in these games doesn’t just add a victory to your own column; it actively prevents a direct competitor from gaining ground.

For Dreamland Gran Canaria, the immediate future is a trial by fire. This Thursday, they face La Laguna Tenerife in a high-intensity derby. In a game where nerves often outweigh tactics, the result will either provide the momentum needed for a survival run or signal the beginning of the end.

Following the derby, Gran Canaria faces Lleida and Manresa before concluding their campaign with a visit to the Roig Arena. Because Manresa and Lleida are also fighting to maintain their distance from the bottom, these matches are effectively playoff games for survival.

For the other three tied teams—Andorra, Zaragoza, and Burgos—the math remains simple but brutal: win as many of the remaining four as possible and hope the other three stumble. With the regular season ending May 25, there is no room for “meaningless” games.

What So for the League

The intensity of this relegation battle highlights the increasing parity in the Liga Endesa. When a former EuroCup finalist like Gran Canaria is fighting on the same level as smaller projects like San Pablo Burgos, it suggests a league where the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” is closing—at least in terms of single-game outcomes.

For the fans in Zaragoza, Andorra, and Burgos, the atmosphere in the arenas has shifted from sporting enjoyment to raw anxiety. Every possession is scrutinized, and every refereeing decision is felt with magnified intensity. Here’s the “agonizing struggle” that defines the end of the Spanish basketball calendar.

As the clock ticks down toward May 25, the ACB is witnessing one of the most congested relegation battles in recent memory. For the four teams tied at nine wins, the next few weeks will be a test of mental fortitude and tactical desperation.

Next Checkpoint: All eyes move to this Thursday’s derby between Dreamland Gran Canaria and La Laguna Tenerife, a match that could fundamentally shift the odds of survival for the Canary Islands club.

Do you think Gran Canaria’s coaching change will be enough to save them, or is the drop to Primera FEB inevitable? Let us know in the comments below.