HLA Alicante fans woke to news that moved quickly through the city’s basketball circles. After eight tense days, when the fate of the bench seemed unsettled by the recent FIBA window, the club unveiled a fresh chapter for a team playing at the Pedro Ferrándiz court. Rubén Perelló was appointed as the head coach, the third man to steer the squad this season and the fifth since the Lucentum era began. The leadership line already included Rivero, García de Vitoria, Monclova, Caínzos, and an interim spell by Lozano. The move signaled a deliberate shift and set in motion a period of anticipation for the club, the supporters, and the players who will follow his lead on the floor.
Weeks of speculation had swirled around possible coaches, with names like Paco García, Félix Alonso, Raúl Lozano, and Sergio García passing through the rumor mill. In the end, the club chose Perelló, a return to Alicante after twelve years away. He is widely remembered for his role during the Luis Castillo era and for guiding Lucentum to the ACB, a landmark achievement in the club’s history. He remains the only coach to deliver three straight promotions with a team advancing within the same division, a feat that lends weight to the decision and raises expectations for the present season. Perelló arrives with a familiarity for the city and a track record that suggests an ability to build success by climbing through the ranks rather than waiting for things to settle on their own.
The appointment marks a bold rearticulation of the club’s ambitions. It pairs a deep local connection with proven experience in turning promising squads into contenders at higher levels. In Alicante’s memory, rivalries against teams like CB Almansa are still recalled as part of a different era, but the focus now is on a fresh start and the potential for a strong run with Perelló guiding the project. The coach’s prior experience includes a notable period with Flexicar Fuenlabrada, where he spent time working alongside coach Toni Ten and contributed to a season that fans remember for its intensity and competitive spirit. Those chapters are cited as part of the broader arc of his career, underscoring a philosophy centered on discipline, smart preparation, and timely decision making during the grind of a long season.
For supporters, the return to Alicante carries special resonance. Perelló’s presence is seen as a bridge between the club’s storied past and its ambitions for the future. The Pedro Ferrándiz arena is expected to become a stage for a more dynamic style of play, anchored by rigorous defense and rapid transitions, and fueled by the development of young local talents. The new coaching regime brings a clear plan: stabilize the bench, cultivate players from the region, and pursue progress through measured, coherent campaigns rather than short bursts of momentum. The challenge is substantial, but the club’s leadership believes that Perelló’s blend of familiarity and proven achievement can convert potential into tangible results on the court.
Beyond the headlines, the appointment speaks to a broader philosophy about how the club intends to navigate the upcoming campaign. It signals a commitment to continuity where it matters most—on the playing surface—while recognizing the need for fresh energy in the locker room and on the sidelines. Perelló’s approach will be observed closely in every practice, in the systems installed, and in the way the team responds to adversity during demanding stretches of the season. The next steps involve assembling a roster that fits his style, integrating emerging talents from the region, and laying the groundwork for a competitive push within the league’s middle and upper echelons. As the club prepares for its next challenge, the city of Alicante watches with renewed interest, hopeful that this combination of local insight and proven leadership can write a new, compelling chapter in Lucentum’s long basketball story.