HLA Alicante Shows Focus and Ambition Ahead of Melilla Challenge
They have not yet celebrated a victory over the recent accident, and Leyma Çoruna remains in their minds as the next hurdle. Rafa Monclova, who traveled with HLA Alicante to Melilla for the 27th league day, made it clear that the squad understands the road ahead. After clinching a 16th win on the field, the coach of Lucentum cautions that enthusiasm must be tempered with realism. He insists that the team keep its feet on the ground and stay mindful of the difficult task awaiting them in Melilla, where the home side is pressing hard for results. The season’s pace has been relentless, and the coach urges restraint even after a strong win, acknowledging that a long campaign still lies ahead for the regular stretch.
“Enthusiasm is valuable when it translates into confidence and continued hard work, especially when we recognize the reasons behind such important victories. Yet the mission is to keep everyone focused and see the challenge Melilla presents. They are in need of a win, and we must maintain maximum concentration and intensity. If we deviate, problems arise. We will keep our feet on the ground; our practice time has been limited, but the team is in good form, and a strong win is always good to build on for the remaining games of the season.”
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“To reach 18 wins, and if we can push to 19, we must remember that the level of competition here is extremely high. Securing a playoff spot would open the door to further goals and continued competitiveness because finishing eighth is the baseline, and seventh would be even better. If home court matters come into play, that would be another advantage. We know who we are and where we come from, and we keep our feet firmly planted. Ambition remains essential; a professional without ambition is not useful. Our objective is to stay in the playoffs, but the players’ passion is always to strive for more”, notes the HLA Alicante coach.
“Our immediate target is to reach the playoffs with 18 wins as soon as possible and help the team shed that weight, loosening up offensively”, he added.
The coach does not doubt the upcoming opponent. Melilla has undergone changes since the last visit, signing a strong American guard who performs at a high level and a dominant center in LEB Oro. They arrive with two consecutive wins and carry the urgency to win on the road. The team has improved after victories over Almansa and Oviedo, but Alicante remains aware of the challenge and emphasizes playing with the necessary tempo and intent to counter Melilla’s improvements. They know the opponent will be pushing hard to beat them, and that awareness shapes Alicante’s approach on game day.
Regarding the squad’s physical condition, the Sevilla coach is confident about the squad’s readiness, noting the departure of Borovnjak and the addition of Coleby as key adjustments entering the decisive phase of the season. “With Coleby in the rotation, we slowed the pace to adapt to the competitive dynamics. We are positioned to compete; more consistency, stronger character, and some better performances away from home are needed. We have made progress in these areas, but we must translate effort into results from now until the season’s end. With eight games to go, the objective is within reach, and the players deserve credit for their work throughout the campaign.”
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For Rafael Monclova, the strength of HLA Alicante lies in disciplined defense and relentless containment. “We are a tough team to beat when we can stretch our outside shooting. Defensively, we have shown resilience all season and even on off nights we find ways to stay competitive. The squad is willing to put in the work after practice, staying late to fine-tune techniques and build confidence.”
On Wednesday, against his former team, the coach aims to consolidate the playoff position as soon as possible so the team can relieve some pressure and relax offensively without sacrificing intensity.