Herbalife Gran Canaria has its back to the wall when it takes on Spanish League rival MoraBanc Andorra. Gran Canaria (0-2) was undefeated at home in the regular season and entered the Top 16 on a four-game winning streak, but came up short in a thriller against Mornar Bar at home in the Top 16 opener and lost at UNICS Kazan last week. Another home loss would virtually end its quarterfinals hopes. Andorra (1-1) was on a five-game slide before it edged Mornar 71-74 in Bar last week. It was the team's second road win in six games this season.
Marquee matchup
A 2018-19 All-EuroCup First Team with Andorra, Andrew Albicy has picked up his game in the Top 16 to average 12.0 points on outstanding shooting and 6.0 assist per game. Now he will tangle with the man who replaced him, Clevin Hannah, who made his EuroLeague debut with Gran Canaria in 2018-19. Hannah has posted 15.0 points and 3.5 assists in the current stage. It should be an exciting matchup.
History lesson
This will be the first clash between these teams outside of the Spanish League. Andorra defeated Granca 62-79 earlier this season in domestic play behind 15 points from David Jelinek. Granca is 4-0 in EuroCup games against Spanish league opponents in the EuroCup, with wins over Lleida, Real Madrid, UCAN Murcia and Fuenlabrada. Granca lost its last two home games against Spanish clubs in the 2018-19 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague versus Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and Real.
Keys to victory: Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria has found success by dominating the glass and shooting well from downtown. It ranks fourth in the EuroCup with 37.9 rebounds per game and second in three-point shooting at 40.5%. If it can limit its turnovers, which at 14.8 are fifth-most in the EuroCup – and second-highest among Top 16 teams – and continue to excel in those other areas, Granca could be in a position to grab its first Top 16 win.
Keys to victory: Andorra
Defense is the key for Andorra, with his 3-1 this season when it's held opponents to less than 70 points. Andorra has topped the 80-point mark three times and lost in two of those. Scoring in the paint could prove decisive for Andorra, which is third in the EuroCup in offensive rebounding (13.3 per game), but has made a competition-low 44.3% of its two-point shots. The Gran Canaria defense has held teams to 46.7% two-point shooting. Art Parakhouski and Babatunde Olumuyiwa will be counted on to change that for the visitors.