Gran Canaria Basketball Club is negotiating the signing of Tenerife pivot Fran Guerra, who has an exit clause from La Laguna Tenerife, for their project to return to the ACB.
Gran Canaria Basketball Club is going all out to assemble a reliable squad that will return them to the Liga Endesa. And on this roadmap, the name that stands out the most is Fran Guerra, the 33-year-old pivot standing at 2.14 metres who plays for their arch-rival, La Laguna Tenerife. The sports management, led by Francesc Solana, is working against the clock to close a deal that would be a major coup for Canary basketball.
An exit clause as the key
Guerra is contracted with the Tenerife team until 2027, but his contract includes an exit clause that Gran Canaria is willing to activate. From the neighbouring island, the Aurinegro club does not want to negotiate, but the player, who was trained in the Pedro Hidalgo academy, is keen on making the leap to his home team. "I always say it, it's the team of my land. Gran Canaria is my home, where I was born and raised," the interior player stated in a recent interview.
The operation will not be straightforward. Gran Canaria, which competes in the Primera FEB after a relegation that ended 31 consecutive seasons in the elite, needs reliable reinforcements to achieve the goal of direct promotion. And Guerra, with his experience in the ACB and European competitions, is the ideal profile to bolster the paint.
Numbers of a differential pivot
Last season, the Pedro Hidalgo native averaged 6.4 points (with a 61% shooting percentage on two-pointers) and 3.5 rebounds in the domestic league, while in the Basketball Champions League, he raised his stats to 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 18 minutes per game. These numbers, combined with his defensive intimidation, make him a coveted player.
For Gran Canaria fans, the potential arrival of Guerra not only represents a sporting reinforcement but also a nod to the Canary academy. The pivot, who has never worn the claret jersey, has confessed on several occasions his desire to do so: "The opportunity has never arisen, but one day I will be able to play there because you never know." Now, that opportunity seems closer than ever.
The squad, almost finalised
While Guerra's future is being resolved, coach Bruno Savignani already has a solid foundation. The guards Carlos Alocén, Jón Axel Gudmundsson, and Christian Díaz; the forwards Marques Townes, Joaquín Rodríguez, Miquel Salvó, and the imminent signing of Joe Cremo; and the interiors Pierre Pelos and Luke Fischer make up a team with experience and talent. The unknown is Jakub Urbaniak, whose future may lead to the NCAA.
The Gran Canaria fans, still digesting the bitter relegation, see this operation as a sign of ambition. If Guerra's signing is completed, the claret team would not only add quality but also send a clear message: promotion is not an option, it is an obligation. And for that, the Tenerife pivot would be the perfect cherry on top.
Next week, updates are expected. Meanwhile, on the island, fans dream of seeing Fran Guerra in the Gran Canaria jersey at the Vega de San José pavilion. Canary basketball could experience a summer saga that, if realised, would change the landscape of the Primera FEB.
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