By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
For the first game of Group E in the Top-16, Herbalife Gran Canaria defeated Alba Berlin, 100-81 at home to start the year off on the right foot.
The key: Gran Canaria’s offense was clicking tonight. The team scored 100 points, shooting an impressive 55% from beyond the arc and 62.9% from inside the line.
The game: Since the start, it was an easy night for the hosts. The Spanish side started the game with a great first quarter and Palomo’s team was up 26-20 after the first ten minutes. In the second period, with Seeley (10 pts) and Eriksson (9 pts) leading the way, Gran Canaria went to the locker rooms at half-time with a 15-point advantage (53-38).
In the next twenty minutes, the home side controlled the tempo of the game as it had the upper hand with a 13-0 run, and increased its lead to 20+ points (66-38). Since that point, the game was over and Alba could not spark a comeback, despite winning the fourth quarter, 16-22.
Five players in double-digits: For Gran Canaria, five players finished with 10+ points: Erikkson (13 pts), Mekel (19 pts, 6 asts), Baez (11 pts), Pasecniks (13 pts) and Pauli (12 pts)
Not enough: Luke Sikma was the only bright spot for the visitors. He finished with a career-high 27 points and seven rebounds.