The team from Tenerife has broken a streak of more than 13 years without an away win against Real Madrid, reliving a feeling that Canarian basketball had not experienced since March 2013. On that occasion, a newly promoted team surprised everyone with an unexpected victory. This double privilege has only been shared by two club figures: the current president, who was then the sports director, and the technical secretary, who played in the first achievement and now serves as a club official.
The current club president highlights that the 2013 victory marked the beginning of a spectacular second half of the season for CB Canarias, which won eight of its last ten games, falling just one win short of the playoffs despite a difficult start. For his part, the technical secretary, present at both historic moments, described the recent victory at the Movistar Arena as an “enormous joy” for winning on a “very complicated court and against a top opponent.”
“"That 2013 victory caught everyone a bit more by surprise because we were a newly promoted team with many players making their debut in the ACB."
The technical secretary emphasizes the differences between the two triumphs. While the 2013 team was a “fearless” and inexperienced group, the current La Laguna Tenerife squad boasts “high-level players recognized internationally, and even with NBA experience.” He also highlights the team's solidity, having won not only in Madrid but also on the courts of other top-tier teams, such as Barça and Unicaja.
Recalling the 2013 match, the technical secretary mentioned that a key player's injury during warm-up caused concern, but the team managed to take the lead and maintain it. Regarding the recent game, he admitted that the final stretch at the Movistar Arena felt “endless” due to Real Madrid's resistance, which brought back “old ghosts” from previous games lost in the final seconds. However, a decisive basket ultimately simplified the outcome.
Finally, the technical secretary praised an Australian player on the team, highlighting his commitment and humility. He described him as a “super normal guy” without a “superstar ego,” which contributes to even greater admiration and respect on the court. He believes the player feels “very grateful for the opportunity” provided by CB Canarias and that his mentality perfectly aligns with the team's, making him a “luxury to have on the court.”
