By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Olek Balcerowski dropped 17 points and John Shurna scored 14 as Gran Canaria beat Barcelona 88 – 85 to close Day 1 of the 2022-23 Spanish ACB League in a rather impressive fashion. Barca began the new season with 0 – 2, counting also the defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish SuperCup Final.
The game was rather dramatic in the finale and after Barcelona came back from down 10 in the first half to go up 77 – 78 with three minutes to play. Gran Canaria regained the lead and Shurna hit a big triple to give his team a 86 – 82 advantage with 1:12 remaining.
A turnover by Andrew Albicy gave Rokas Jokubaitis the opportunity to bring his team at a shooting distance. AJ Slaughter missed a floater and then Jokubaitis slipped on the other end as Shurna took possession of the ball and won the foul that allowed him to make it 88 – 84.
Barcelona still had a chance to tie the game when Damian Inglis was called with a technical foul. Yet after a free throw by Nicolas Laprovittola and with two seconds to play, Jokubaitis made a bad pass to Alex Abrines as the final buzzer was heard.
Sertac Sanli had 18 points plus 10 rebounds to lead Barca. He scored 10 in the third period. Alex Abrines notched 17 points and six rebounds while Nikola Kalinic finished with 15 points and six boards of his own.
Day 1 Results:
Bàsquet Girona 88 – 94 Real Madrid
Carplus Fuenlabrada 81 – 83 Coviran Granada
Monbus Obradoiro 76 – 73 Casademont Zaragoza
BAXI Manresa 70 – 89 Lenovo Tenerife
UCAM Murcia 70 – 84 Río BreogánRío Breogán
Cazoo Baskonia 103 – 89 Unicaja
Real Betis Baloncesto 78- 83Valencia Basket
Gran Canaria 88 – 85 Barcelona
Joventut Badalona 76- 81 Surne Bilbao Basket