By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Two free throws by Clevin Hannah with 13 seconds remaining gave Gran Canaria an 87 – 86 victory over fellow Spanish team Barcelona. A win of historic significance for Gran Canaria since it is their first ever for the club in EuroLeague.
Kevin Pangos, who began his professional career with Gran Canaria in 2015, missed the jumper on the other end and thus Barcelona remained winless two games in the season.
Barca was up 72 – 79 with five minutes remaining but their opponents rallied behind Chris Evans (19 points) to chew that deficit and become threatening. Evans actually handed his team an 85 – 84 lead with 1:18 remaining but a technical on Kim Tillie following an angry reaction he had after he was called with a blocking foul, allowed Barcelona to make it 85 – 86. Yet the hosts had the last laugh.
“It gives us joy, but there is no time to celebrate it. It was the first game at home in the Euroleague and we won the game. We have come to compete. We have had a good time and if you win you are happy. The game had all the ingredients for a good debut,” Gran Canaria Salva Maldonado said.
Kyle Kuric, another former Gran Canaria player, dropped a game-high 24 points for Barcelona. Ante Tomic posted 8 points and five rebounds while Pangos scored 11 and dished out five assists.
Apart from Evans, Clevin Hannah had 14 points while Tillie and DJ Strawberry added 13 points apiece.