Gran Canaria cruises to big win in Jerusalem

Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas picked up its first win of the stage by pounding Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 64-75 in the Israeli capital. The game wasn’t even as close as the final score would indicate; The visitors hit 4 three-pointers in a 3-18 second-quarter run to take control and stretched their lead to 24 in the third quarter. A strong fourth quarter from the hosts never got them closer than 11. Sasu Salin made 5 of 9 three-pointers for 20 points and Albert Oliver connected on 4 of 6 shots from downtown en route to 18 points and 5 assists for the winners. Alen Omic shot 7 for 9 for 15 points for Gran Canaria. Yotam Halperin and Tony Gaffney led Jerusalem with 14 points apiece and Lior Eliyahu and Matt Janning each had 10 as the team dropped to 0-2.

Elyahu and Donta smith started things right for Jerusalem with the first baskets of the game, however Eulis Baez and Oliver responded with back-to-back threes for the visitors. Gaffney knotted the game at 10-10 only to see Sasu Salin scored the next 6 points with a triple and 3 free throws. Gaffney continued to push the hosts and E.J. Rowland made it 16-18 after 10 minutes. After Oliver and Halperin traded threes to start the second quarter, Albert his another and Sasu Salin followed before Omic gave Gran Canaria a double-digit lead. A basket by Eliyahu did not change much as Omic scored inside and Pablo Aguilar nailed a triple to make it 21-34. The lead was 17 after another Aguilar three. Oliver added his fourth three of the half and Omic boosted the margin to 26-44. After a three by Gaffney and an Oriol Pauli layup, the scoreboard showed 29-46 at halftime.

Sasu Salin opened the second half with a pair of threes as the lead swelled into the 20s. Gaffney scored, but it would be the hosts only bucket in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Gran Canaria’s lead ultimately peaked up 31-55 on a basket by Omic midway through the third quarter. Eliyahu got on a roll and Janning’s first basket closed the gap to 15, but Oliver scored the last 4 points of the quarter to make it 42-61. Halperin gave the local fan hope with an assist to Smith and a three-pointer before Janning made it 49-63, but an Aguilar triple reminded everyone which team was in charge. Halperin netted free throws to make it a 12-point game with five minutes to go. Sasu Salin drilled another three and Baez scored as it became clear that Jerusalem’s effort would be too little too late.