John Shurna, Gran Canaria: 'Each game is important'

Hello again! The good news is that we've made it to the EuroCup Playoffs already. Obviously, you want to make the playoffs, it is important, but I think in this format where 80% of the teams make the playoffs, we want to play at home. But the most important thing is to be playing our best basketball when it comes to playoff time. We clinched the playoff spot with a road win against London Lions. That was my first time in London, so that was a fun experience. And it seems like an organization that wants to and continues to grow, so I'm excited to see what direction they head in the next couple of years. I had some time to walk around, very briefly. I was able to see Buckingham Palace and Big Ben!

"That was my first time in London, so that was a fun experience... I was able to see Buckingham Palace and Big Ben!"

Paris Basketball and London Lions were invited to play the EuroCup, and both teams have played better and better as the season has gone on, which I think is normal given that everything is new for them. I'm sure they have had to make adjustments. When it comes to London, I think adding Jordan Taylor and having a healthy Sam Dekker has helped that team and they have played better and better as of late. I think for organizations that are just starting, they are adjusting to everything and seem to be taking the right steps, but it is still very early for them as clubs, so I'm sure the more experience they gain, the more they will continue to learn and grow.

Of course, the goal is to finish first in our group. We have three more home games and play twice on the road. Obviously, it would be nice to be to finish first in our group but, I think it's most important is to be playing our best basketball during the playoffs. I think last year we were in a position where I believe we finished first in our group. We weren't playing our best basketball at that time and we lost. In this format, 80% of the teams make the playoffs and it's single elimination in the playoffs. So I think playing at home is nice, but it's most important to be playing your best basketball at the right time.

At this point, we are just focusing on ourselves and trying to play, trying to improve as a team and play better basketball. We went through a tough point at the end of November and the month of December and we have played better the last couple of games, so hopefully, we can continue to build off that and continue to make steps in the right direction. Our next EuroCup game is against Hapoel in Tel Aviv. It should be fun. That's another team that's been playing really well as of late and has great fans traveling around with the team. I am looking forward to it. They seem to be getting more comfortable playing with each other and a lot of their players have stepped up and are playing well.

I don't know if you know, but club legend Sitapha Savane is our new president. Taph is someone who you think of when you think of Gran Canaria, even prior to him becoming president of the club. You hear Taph's name and you have to admit, it's probably one of the first names, if not the first, you think of when you think of Gran Canaria basketball. So I think his passion and love for the club and the island has been great for us. He is someone who's always kept a close eye on Gran Canaria and really cares for this team, this club and this island. And he has been working very hard at his job, now as president of the club. Taph has been a leader most of his life, starting from going to the Naval Academy to all his teams. I think he's been one of the leaders on his team. Now, the role has changed from wearing a jersey to wearing a suit, but he's still a leader, and he's someone who cares a lot for this club. He wants to see it do well and works extremely hard to do what's best for the club.

"It would be nice to be to finish first in our group but, I think it's most important is to be playing our best basketball during the playoffs."

So far, we've made it to the Copa del Rey tournament and are first in our EuroCup group. Every game is important in the Spanish league, too. If you are not playing your best basketball each night, it doesn't matter where you're standing. If you don't come out and play your best, you're going to lose. We have experienced it, so each game is important. And then in terms of the EuroCup, it does come down to playing good basketball come playoff time. We will play a derby against Tenerife in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. It will be a tough test for us, but the Copa is a great event and it should be a great atmosphere, especially in a derby game.

But first things first, we will try to beat Hapoel in Tel Aviv! Wish us luck!