Asier Alonso joins Lucentum as the sporting director
He moved from Betis to replace Luis Arbalejo. He doesn’t start from zero because he already knows coach Antonio Pérez, with whom he has worked for five years. He is grounded and prefers not to discuss the promotion battle just yet. He arrived in Alicante only a few days ago and has already been fully immersed in the new project. Ambitious yet realistic, he sees a club with substantial growth plans for the medium term.
The main reason for choosing Alicante over Sevilla can be boiled down to three factors. First, the care and trust the club has shown since Arbalejo’s departure. Second, the project is both ambitious and practical, with a clear growth plan. Results may take time, but the potential is compelling. Third, Antonio Pérez, the coach he has collaborated with at two different clubs prior to joining Alicante, provides a key advantage because he already understands the working method and ideas in place.
On arrival, he focused on getting to know the town and the club’s structure. He is mapping the organizational chart and speaking with everyone who contributes to the club’s operations. He perceives a strong growth vision, a culture of solid processes, and an identification of significant areas for improvement that can be advanced with everyone’s effort and participation.
Was teaming up with Antonio Pérez the decisive factor? It clearly helped. This will be the fifth season working with Pérez, so he already knows the coach’s methods and ideas. That familiarity means they are not starting from scratch.
What can he contribute to Lucentum? Above all, he champions a team-centered approach, resisting the lure of personalities and focusing on collective value. Hard work, humility, loyalty, and common sense are viewed as essential and foundational to staying on the right path.
What project is in mind for the next season? He aims to balance a medium-to-long-term plan with careful, incremental changes. He will explore different ideas in collaboration with the academy and intends to cultivate a diverse range of experiences with an international outlook to attract players and coaches over the long run.
Currently there is only one player under review (Gatell). Is there a chance to keep a player from last season? This is something the club is evaluating in the coming weeks, with openness to all market possibilities.
What can be said about Antonio Pérez? He is a multidisciplinary coach with high technical-tactical knowledge accessible to only a few. He has bench experience across various Spanish basketball categories and brings modern, attractive concepts for playing at high speed. Player development under his guidance has often shown notable progress.
The playoffs last year set a benchmark; is the goal to reach the Final Four? The aim is to play top-quality basketball and let that effort translate into position. Competitors like Estudiantes, Burgos, and Fuenlabrada feature strong budgets and immediate promotion expectations, while teams such as Coruña, Valladolid, and Gipuzkoa Basket continue to advance. The plan is to build a new, highly competitive squad with energy and weekly consistency, without placing artificial limits.
Will the first team have a budget to contend for top positions? There are strong projects aiming for promotion to the top league. Lucentum intends to keep ascending while staying grounded in reality. Bigger budgets can ease signing the best players, but a great roster does not guarantee a great team. In sport, money is not the sole determinant of success.
What did the directive communicate? Absolute confidence in the club’s decisions and the philosophy to be respected as work continues.
Did they mention Alicante’s fans? There is a strong memory of Lucentum supporters cheering across many arenas, and the excitement to see fans enjoy the team at the Technification Center is palpable.
Besides the senior team, what other goals exist? Junior teams are a priority, though initial focus will be on the first team in the coming months. The plan starts with a thorough assessment of current assets, followed by targeted decisions to improve what is already strong and to introduce new ideas that can be enriching.
How important is the academy in the project? The academy is a key component the club wants to strengthen. Supporting coach development and player growth at every level is a priority, ensuring long-term benefits for the entire setup.