Girona defeats Cheshire and McClung begins his European adventure

The FIATC Girona began its preparation for the season with a convincing victory against the English team Cheshire Phoenix. The match, held in Platja d'Aro, marked the start of a preseason that is particularly demanding for the Catalan team, which is entering its first year in European competition with the FIBA Europe Cup. The project led by Moncho Fernández and presided over by Marc Gasol aims to compete on multiple fronts simultaneously, a reality that affects the workload in these weeks leading up to the campaign.

The decisive run before halftime

The first minutes reflected a balance between both teams. The first quarter ended with a slight lead for Phoenix (23-26), and the trend continued past the fifteen-minute mark with a 31-31 tie showing the equality. However, before reaching halftime, Girona found the right pace and executed a devastating run of 19-7 that transformed the game. This surge left the score at 50-38 at the end of the first half, a psychological blow that changed the course of the match.

The second half amplified Girona's superiority. In the third quarter, Moncho Fernández’s team accumulated a run of 45-21 that was practically decisive, bringing the score to 76-52. The dominance was so clear that the final period served only for Cheshire Phoenix to reduce a score that was already sealed. The final victory of 93-77 reflected the difference in potential between both teams on a day when the Catalans showed defensive solidity and offensive fluidity.

Geben leads the scoring in record time

Lithuanian pivot Martinas Geben was the top scorer of the afternoon with 16 points, a particularly noteworthy figure considering he needed only 13 minutes on the court to achieve it. His offensive efficiency allowed Girona to establish dominance in the paint from the first quarter. Following Geben on the scoring list were Mac McClung and Sergi Martínez, both with 11 points, followed by Pep Busquets and Stanley Whittaker with 10 points each. This distribution of scoring indicates that the team has multiple offensive options, a crucial factor for competing in a highly demanding preseason.

Mac McClung's European debut

Beyond the result and the statistics, what was truly significant about the afternoon was Mac McClung's debut in the Girona jersey. The point guard-shooting guard from Gate City, at 27 years old and 1.89 meters tall, represents the most high-profile signing of the summer in the Liga Endesa. His accolades are extraordinary: three-time consecutive champion of the NBA All-Star dunk contest in 2023, 2024, and 2025, along with being a two-time G League MVP. Since March of this year, he holds the historic record as the highest scorer in that competition, an achievement that underscores his offensive capability in North American developmental basketball.

The numbers McClung accumulated in his last season with the Windy City Bulls leave no doubt about his potential. In 40 games, he averaged 29.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.6 assists, with a performance rating of 28.6. These figures position the American as a top-level offensive threat in any competition. However, his arrival in Europe raises an inevitable question: how will a player who has dominated the G League translate his game to European basketball, which he has never experienced, characterized by fewer possessions, more physical contact, and different defensive systems for protecting the pick and roll.

In the match against Cheshire Phoenix, McClung contributed 11 points. This figure, in the context of a friendly in August, does not provide definitive answers about his adaptation, but it does confirm that the process has begun. The team and its coach have time to refine tactical details and allow the point guard-shooting guard to become familiar with the rhythms and demands of continental basketball. His presence is an enormously valuable asset for Girona's aspirations.

Whittaker and the renewed project under Gasol's presidency

Stanley Whittaker was another addition that debuted in Platja d'Aro, joining a deeply revamped roster. The team presided over by Marc Gasol has configured an ambitious project that goes beyond domestic competition. In addition to participating in its first venture in European competition with the FIBA Europe Cup, Girona aims to compete for the Copa del Rey and achieve qualification for the Liga Endesa playoffs. These multiple objectives explain the intensity of a preseason that concentrates a higher workload than usual.

Whittaker contributed 10 points in his debut, a modest but positive contribution in the context of a game where the team showed offensive depth. His addition is part of a broader renewal strategy that seeks to balance experience, youth, and specific talent for each position. The victory against Cheshire Phoenix represents a satisfactory first step, although the real test will come in the upcoming friendlies and, especially, when official competition begins.

The FIATC Girona has started its journey on a positive note, but the true measure of this project will come when it has to compete simultaneously on three fronts: the Liga Endesa, the Copa del Rey, and the FIBA Europe Cup. The preseason will serve to solidify automations, integrate new signings, and prepare a team that, on paper, has the resources to excite its fans.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Girona vence al Cheshire y McClung inicia su aventura europea