ULEB Cup draw profile: Kalise Gran Canaria
For the third time in four ULEB Cup seasons, Kalise Gran Canaria survived the regular season to fight for bigger prizes in the elimination rounds, this time winning Group G outright. Its 8-2 record was plenty good enough for a top seed in the elimination rounds draw that could pay dividends for a team that has lost just two home games in four ULEB Cup seasons so far. After losing a road game 71-63 at eventual qualifier Slask Wroclaw to start the season, Gran Canaria won eight of its last nine games, including a head-to-head finale against Asvel Basket, to rule the group. Gran Canaria's success in Group G won based on excellent rebounding, as the team ranked third in the entire competition with 35.7 boards per game and second on the offensive glass, with 12 per game. That was a team effort, however, as no single Gran Canaria player was among the best 20 rebounders in the regular season rankings. A swarming, high-energy game was clear, too, from the fact that 10 different Gran Canaria players averaged between 15 and 25 minutes - and no one more. The only full-time starter, Carl English, put up 15.5 points on average and was among the first round's best free throw shooters. After him, defenses couldn't focus on anyone, as five players - Kornel David, Joel Freeland, Roberto Guerra, Marcus Norris and Sitapha Savane - averaged between 8.1 and 9.9 points. Another of this team's advantages is togetherness, as Guerra and a pair of veterans, Jim Moran and Victor Baldo, are still around from the club's original ULEB Cup team in the the 2003-04 season. Up-and-coming Mario Fernandez and late pickup Niklas Caner-Medley round out a rotation that can bring energy to both ends of the floor all game long. If it can continue rebounding so well, Gran Canaria will be in every game it plays, and if it keeps protecting its island home so well, the sky is the limit for one of Spain's most solid teams of the last decade.
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