ESP – Gran Canaria late show dooms Bruesa

GRAN CANARIA (ACB) - Surprising Kalise Gran Canaria needed overtime but finally beat Bruesa GBC 96-92 on Thursday to keep pace with Tau Ceramica at the top of the Spanish ACB.

Great Britain international Joel Freeland had another impressive game for the winners with a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds.

An upset looked to be on the cards when Bruesa stormed out to a 27-16 lead but Salva Maldonado's team clawed the deficit back to 39-31 by half-time and trailed only 55-52 with 10 minutes remaining.

Gran Canaria had a chance to win at the end of regulation but Canada international Carl English missed two free throws to leave the game knotted at 77-77.

Marcus Norris and Freeland scored the first two baskets of the extra period but Bruesa kept the game close.

A three-pointer by Bruesa veteran Lou Rou cut the gap to 84-83. Freeland and Norris replied with buckets.

Bruesa battled and four more times pulled to within two points but Gran Canaria made all six of their free-throw attempts in the final minute to hold on for their seventh triumph in eight games.

Bruesa, who got a game-high 25 points from Panko, fell to 2-6.

Tau Ceramica also improved to 7-1 with a 97-83 victory at DKV Joventut (5-4).

Brazil international center Tiago Splitter dominated with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Tau while Igor Rakocevic led all scorers with 24.

Cajasol, meanwhile, have decided to part with veteran coach Manel Comas after the club's 1-7 start.

Ángel Jareño and Rocky Jarana will lead the club until a permanent replacement is found.

FIBA