The 2025-26 Liga Endesa regular season delivered another thrilling chapter on May 24, 2026, as La Bruixa d'Or Manresa pulled off a hard-fought 87-80 road victory over Dreamland Gran Canaria at the Gran Canaria Arena. Despite a spirited push from the home side in the final minutes, Manresa's discipline and clutch shooting saw them escape the island with a crucial win, tightening the race for playoff positioning.
Match Overview
From the opening tip, both teams displayed high-intensity defense and rapid ball movement. Gran Canaria, playing in front of their passionate home crowd, started strong behind their veteran guard rotation. However, Manresa responded with a balanced attack, using crisp pick-and-roll execution to carve open the Canarian defense. By halftime, the visitors had built a 44-38 lead, capitalizing on transition opportunities and second-chance points.
The third quarter proved decisive. Manresa's perimeter shooting caught fire, hitting five triples in the period to stretch the lead to 13 points entering the final frame. Dreamland Gran Canaria, known for their never-say-die attitude, mounted a furious rally in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to just four points with under three minutes remaining. But Manresa's composure at the free-throw line—converting 10 of 12 attempts in the last two minutes—sealed the result.
Key Moments and Tactical Story
- Manresa's bench production: The visiting reserves outscored Gran Canaria's second unit 32-18, providing crucial energy when starters rested.
- Turnover battle: Manresa forced 14 turnovers and turned them into 19 points, while committing only 9 themselves.
- Paint dominance: Despite Gran Canaria's size advantage, Manresa matched them inside with 36 points in the paint, neutralizing the home team's interior threats.
- Free-throw efficiency: Manresa shot 22-of-26 (84.6%) from the line, a stark contrast to Gran Canaria's 14-of-21 (66.7%).
Standout Performers
For La Bruixa d'Or Manresa, forward Jordi Martínez led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Point guard Carlos López orchestrated the offense with 14 points and 8 assists, committing only 1 turnover. On the Dreamland Gran Canaria side, big man Mamadou Diallo posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while playmaker Albert Sánchez chipped in 16 points and 5 assists despite foul trouble.
Impact on the Standings
The victory improved Manresa's record to 19-12, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a top-six finish and direct playoff qualification. For Gran Canaria, the loss dropped them to 18-13, leaving them tied with several teams in the crowded middle of the Liga ACB table. With only a handful of games remaining, every result carries enormous weight in the battle for European spots and home-court advantage.
Both teams will quickly turn the page: Dreamland Gran Canaria travel to face UCAM Murcia next, while La Bruixa d'Or Manresa return home to host Bàsquet Girona in a pivotal matchup for conference positioning.

