The Canary Islands hosted another stern test for visiting teams as the home side dictated the tempo from the opening whistle. Handball Club Elche Visitelche.com faced Rocasa Gran Canaria in a matchup that highlighted the gap in league standing while still delivering moments of grit for the guests. After their earlier success in the EHF European Cup quarterfinals, the home side asserted control again and closed out at 24-21, a score that mirrored the sustained pressure they exerted throughout the night.
The visitors came out with a clear plan. Joaquin Rocamora led the charge for Elche, aiming to disrupt the hosts and conjure a surprising result. Differences in budget and squad depth between the teams were evident in the live action. Elche arrived intent on a late surge that could boost their European ambitions next season, focusing on resilience and organization.
The opening minutes were tightly contested. Elche struggled to find their footing, while Rocasa built a lead that peaked at seven at one stage. A crucial timeout sparked a renewed push, trimming the gap to three by halftime with Rocasa ahead 14-11. The home club set a relentless pace, challenging the visitors to keep up as they relied on rapid transitions and precise finishes to maintain the advantage.
In the second half, Elche brought renewed energy. The Franjiverdes pressed higher and tried to exploit the wings, yet Rocasa’s center-focused presence remained a solid obstacle. The visitors found more opportunities from the flanks, but the Islanders stayed efficient in finishing plays and preserving the lead. On several occasions Elche shaved into the margin, but the cushion stayed largely intact as time wore on, confirming Rocasa Gran Canaria’s control of the match.
In the end, the scoreboard read 24-21 as Elche Visitelche left the Canary Islands without road points. The game illustrated how balance can tilt with experience and how close Elche remains to turning a difficult performance into a more favorable result in future clashes.
DATA SHEET:
ROCKY GRAN CANARI: Silvia Navarro, Melania Falcón, Manuela Pizzo, Arinegua Pérez, Alba Spugnini, Seynabou Mbemgue, María Gomes, Mizuki Hosoe, Katerina Pavlovic, Esther De Miguel, Aagni Zygoura, Ana Belén Palomino, Yraya Abenchara, María González and Nerea Guerra.
ELCHE VISITOR.COM: Nicole Morales, Pamela Rodrigues, Katia Zukhova, Africa Sempere, Giselle Menéndez, Celia Guilabert, Patricia Méndez, Clara Gascó, María Flores, Joana Bolling, Paola Bernabé and Grace Duke.
EVERY 5 MINUTES MARK: 3-2, 7-3, 10-5, 13-6, 13-8, 14-11, 15-12, 17-13, 19-16, 20-17, 22-19 and 24-21.
REFEREES: Roberto Carlos Mendoza and Juan Pablo Viscialli.
MANSION: Antonio Moreno from Telde
MATCH DAY 20 IBERDROLA FIGHTERS LEAGUE CLASSIFICATION
1- Super Amara Bera Bera 37
2- Unicaja Banco Gijón 31
3- Costa del Sol Malaga 31
4- Rocasa Gran Canaria 30
5- Mecalia Atlético Guardés 26
6- ELCHE VISITELCHE.COM 23
7- KH-7 Granols 22
8- Caja Rural Class Valladolid 20
9- Zuazo Barakaldo 19
10- Porrio 16
11- Morvedre 10
12- Hanbel Sant Quirze 6
13- Health Tenerife 5
14- Zonzamas Lanzarote 2