Day of illusion in the Arena. On stage the new project of CB Gran Canaria for the 2022-23 campaign, which is presented to its fans in which it is the last test of the preseason before starting the Endesa League on Friday of next week at the Siete Palmas venue. As an aperitif, a regional derby against Lenovo Tenerife (6:30 p.m.), whom the yellows already defeated last Saturday in La Laguna for the Isola Cup (90-92).
For this duel, the Gran Canarians will already have Brazilian shooting guard Vitor Benítez among their ranks, a new addition who arrived on the island precisely on Saturday after being runner-up in the Copa America with Brazil after losing in the final against Nico Brussino’s Argentina, who was in the weekend’s duel.
The Granca, the week before the start of the Endesa League, will have all its troops already gathered, although the presence in the rotation of several of them in the presentation this afternoon before the fans will be very difficult. It will be necessary to see if the technician Jaka Lakovic has Andrew Albicy, Eurobasket runner-up after losing the final against Spain last Sunday.
The French point guard landed on the island on Tuesday night and yesterday passed the mandatory medical examination. It seems almost impossible for Olek Balcerowski and AJ Slaughter. Both plan to arrive on the island today after achieving fourth place with Poland in the continental selections event. Who the Gran Canaria fans can pay tribute to is Víctor García, who won the gold in Berlin as an assistant to the Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo.
For his part, at Lenovo Tenerife, coach Txus Vidorreta should add several pieces of great importance with respect to the Isola Cup five days ago. These are the cases of Marcelinho Huertas and Sasu Salin, who began training with the Lagunero squad on Monday, as well as Jaime Fernández, who trained yesterday for the first time at the Santiago Martín. Fran Guerra, who was booked on Saturday due to muscular overload, could also join those available.
Despite the almost certain absences in Granca, the yellow team will try again to take advantage of their greater shooting in this preseason, as their rival played the first preparatory match against the Claretians last Saturday. On the other hand, the Gran Canaria squad adds a total of five, with the balance of three defeats and two victories. It is not a negative baggage for how diminished the squad has been in this first stage of the 2022-23 season.
