Goodbye regular season, hello Playoffs. Today the Liga Endesa wraps up its final matchday with several issues still to be resolved in the top part of the table. The final order of the eight teams that will compete for the title starting next week is yet to be determined. And Dreamland Gran Canaria is one of those affected. The yellows, currently seventh with the same number of victories as Joventut, sixth, must win tonight (8:00 p.m., M+ Dep3) at the Arena against a UCAM Murcia team that is fighting for the ninth position, important for participating in Europe next season, and wait for what Joventut does at the home of an already pressure-free Unicaja.
Another matter being resolved today is who Granca will face on Monday as visitors in the first round of the Playoff quarterfinals. Tenerife La Laguna or Valencia Basket, both vying for second place in the standings on this last date.
Additionally, for another lesser-known reason, it is important for Dreamland to defeat Murcia in their attempt to move up a spot in the standings. As Jaka Lakovic revealed in the preview: “First we will be focused on this last season match, where we are playing for the sixth or seventh position. It’s important, not just because of the Playoff or the rival we might face, since the second and third places are also in play, but to ensure the highest possible position to give the club the luxury and option of choosing the European competition they want to play next year—either to play in the Eurocup as always or to switch to the Champions, which is becoming a stronger possibility for the next season.”
Clearly, Granca’s coach was asked in the pre-match against UCAM about his preference between the two rivals they might face at the start of the Playoff, Tenerife or Valencia. “I’ve thought about it, but honestly, I have no preference. They are two great teams that have had very good seasons. Since I can’t choose, it doesn’t make much sense to answer that question,” he explained.
With a Clear Mind in the Playoff
Jaka Lakovic pointed out that a victory against Murcia “would keep us with the confidence we’ve gained in recent weeks.” “The team is well and physically ready. In the two days left before the Playoff starts on Monday, we don’t want to be cleaning up things from after-match and looking at errors; we want to have a clear mind and confidence to prepare for the Playoff,” argued the Slovenian coach of Granca.
Regarding tomorrow’s opponent, UCAM Murcia, he warned that they “always play very physically, at the limit of fouls. They commit the most fouls due to their playing style and are also the best defense in the League, and we must be prepared for a demanding match physically and in terms of intensity,” he analyzed.
As dangers from Murcia, he highlighted “their shooting from outside the perimeter with Hakanson and Dylan Ennis, who are having an excellent season, Radebaugh and Kurucs, who can also play a lot inside, and their inside play with Birgander and Radovic, they have a strong presence, along with Gates in the four.”
