CB Ariagona kicked off their season with a convincing win on Saturday at the Ciudad Deportiva de Lanzarote, defeating C.B. Guancha 79-58 in the opening match of the Primera División Autonómica.
Ariagona, led for this match by Juan Carlos Arrocha due to the absence of Daniel González, started well but found the first quarter evenly contested. Both teams scored confidently initially, but as the game progressed, both struggled offensively. In the second quarter, Ariagona gained momentum, and although Guancha managed to close the gap by halftime, the score stood at 37-31.
Andrea Cabrera and Esther Iranzo were key for Ariagona, contributing 9 and 8 points respectively. For Guancha, Nerea Rodríguez Abreu and Laura Martín each scored 11 points. Ariagona excelled on the boards, grabbing 24 rebounds compared to Guancha’s 12, though they struggled with three-pointers, hitting just two out of twelve attempts.
After the break, Ariagona took control, extending their lead with a strong third-quarter performance. They entered the final quarter with enough confidence to secure the victory in their first league match.
Laura Martín emerged as the match’s top scorer with 23 points, supported by Nerea Rodríguez’s 20 points. For Ariagona, Sara Ariza shone in the second half with 17 points, while Esther Iranzo added 13.
After the match, coach Juan Carlos Arrocha expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting the eagerness to start the league despite the lack of pre-season friendlies. He noted the importance of teamwork, particularly with new players and their physical conditioning. The focus, he mentioned, would be on developing their defence as they lacked height compared to last season. “We need to integrate and improve further; the next game against Juventud Laguna will be a significant test,” Arrocha concluded.
Ariagona will return to action on Saturday, October 3rd, at 16:00, against Juventud Laguna, who won their first match against Tenerife Central Alteza 61-39, with all players contributing to the score.
Technical Details:
Ariagona Lanzarote (79): Tayri Bravo, Rosario De León (7), Yasmina Rodríguez, Daima Sidibe (2), Noelia Gallego (4), Uxue Galarza (4), Andrea Cabrera (14), Gabriela Caballero (6), Sara Ariza (16), Clara Expósito (8), Esther Iranzo (18) and Jennifer Cabrera. Coach: Juan Carlos Arrocha.
CB Guancha (58): Nerea Rodríguez (16), Patricia Vázquez (6), Keyla Hernández (2), Neus Dávila, Mónica Fuentes (4), Laura Martín (22), Valeria Fernández, Nesoya Alonso and Martina Fernández (3). Coach: Dromely Fuentes, assisted by Samuel Castro and Cirilo Fuentes.
Scores by Quarters: 16-12, 21-19, 23-13, 19-14
Notes: This match was part of the first round of the Primera División Autonómica and took place at the Ciudad Deportiva de Lanzarote.
