This Gran Canaria squad faced a setback against Real Madrid this Saturday at home, losing 83-91, yet they remain a serious contender for the Endesa League title after a dramatic 99-98 comeback win over Surne Bilbao Basket.
Players, coaching staff, and fans waited roughly five minutes to confirm their final standing in the Regular League, as they tracked the Bilbao-Betis result that went into overtime after their loss to Real Madrid. In the end, the Sevilla club’s victory affected Gran Canaria’s quarterfinal pairing, boosting its prospects in the postseason race.
Porfirio Fisac’s group did not deliver the performance expected for the moment. Real Madrid defended with discipline, executed its offense efficiently, and withstood the Yellow subs’ attempts to respond.
Poor three-point shooting (4 of 22) and a dip in defensive intensity contributed to a defeat that felt more manageable due to Betis’ win, rather than through a harsh on-court turnover.
Gran Canaria initially looked sharp, taking a 2-0 lead after Slaughter opened the scoring, but Real Madrid dominated the first two quarters by playing faster, executing with precision, and maintaining superior concentration that kept the opponent from finding rhythm on offense.
Madrid’s defensive shifts, adjusting from man-to-man to a 3-2 zone when the ball went inside, disrupted Gran Canaria and produced a flurry of turnovers and contested shots. The visitors’ offense stalled as a result, and the home team’s defense was slow to respond at times.
Soon Paul Lasso’s squad tried to close the gap, with Williams-Goss connecting a timely three at the 5th minute to push the score to 7-12 in favor of Madrid as the first-quarter clock ran down.
White’s presence on the floor became increasingly impactful, and by the second period the lead grew to as much as 16 points. Real Madrid stayed true to its plan, altering defenses and forcing mistakes, leaving Gran Canaria struggling to settle into a comfortable offensive rhythm and unable to seize control during timeouts or coaching adjustments.
Sergio Llull kept the tempo high with two early three-pointers on home soil, as Gran Canaria struggled to find success beyond the arc while Madrid extended the lead to 23-34, despite the visitors’ attempts to tighten gaps and counter with a strong defense of their own.
Even with a late burst of intensity, a 39-49 timeout offered Gran Canaria a sliver of hope, signaling the need for a reset and renewed focus in the second half.
Coming out of the locker room, Gran Canaria appeared more cohesive, closing the gap with an 8-2 run that cut the deficit to 46-51. The defense grew more aggressive and the transition game clicked, allowing the team to threaten for the first time since the opening minutes.
Madrid, though, answered with an 0-8 burst to restore order and push the margin back toward the upper teens, leaving Gran Canaria staring at a 46-59 scoreboard. The gap could have widened further to 2-13 if not for stubborn resistance that kept the pressure on the reigning league champions.
Granca found a spark late in regulation as Dylan Ennis led a determined push in the final period. The offense began to click, and a late flurry brought the score within reach at 68-74. Yet Real Madrid maintained composure in the closing minutes, sealing the win and the crucial road victory by a final 83-91 margin.
Data sheet:
83 – Grand Canary (17+22+18+26): Albicy (6), Slaughter (11), Brussino (-), Shurna (10), Pustovyi (12) -top five-, Khalifa Diop (10), Balcerowski (6), Ennis (24), Salvo (-), Stevic (-) and Chery (4).
91 – Real Madrid (23+26+21+21). Williams-Goss (11), Causeur (2), Hanga (6), Yabusele (13), Tavares (10) -starting five-, Randolph (12), Abalde (7), Deck (4), Poirier (8) , Llull (11) and Taylor (7).
Referees: Calatrava, Sanchez Sixto and Alcaraz. They issued a warning to Real Madrid coach Pablo Laso at minute 40 and ejected Williams-Goss for fouls late in the game.
Events: The match drew 6,796 spectators at the Gran Canaria Arena.