HLA Alicante faced a tough setback against Valladolid, marking a second defeat after a challenging start to the season. The contest unfolded as a brutal test in every phase: the Alicante defense failed to pressure the ball, the offense struggled to find rhythm, and the opponent capitalized on local weaknesses with relentless precision. Devin Schmidt remained a constant threat, delivering 23 points and connecting on five three-pointers. Valladolid pressured the floor with 35 attempts from beyond the arc, one more than Lucentum managed for the entire game. Gudmundsson and Davison were the only players who showed consistency in the final period for Alicante.
The bench on Caínzos’ squad saw limited rotation for most of the match. The team pressed without fluency and without the defensive cohesion needed to curb Valladolid, which did not require a flawless performance to secure a fair victory. The absence of Adrián Rodríguez due to injury and Harris’ uneven showing contributed to the growing concerns. The point guard did not settle into the pace of the league, a point the club has been highlighting in recent matches against Leyma Coruña as well.
Women, fire and dangerous things
Internal play dominated the early minutes, with two strong teams matching up on both ends. Schmidt and Gudmundsen traded blows from the outside, while HLA relied on sturdy defense and Barro’s skilled presence. A notable block by Gatell on De la Fuente highlighted Lucentum’s defensive intensity in a spirited first quarter, even as Valladolid responded with composure and seized control. A 0-11 run gave Paco García’s squad a commanding edge, finishing the opening period at 13-21 and leaving Lucentum searching for a path to repair the game. His team failed to find the shooting range early, ending the first half with 1 of 9 from three and a growing deficit at 19-30.
Gatell released the pressure a bit at the start of the second quarter, but the flow remained unfavorable for Lucentum. Missed shots mounted, and Valladolid’s defense stifled any offensive surge. Caínzos called a timeout with the score at 15-25 as Lucentum continued a rough stretch. Through the first seven minutes of the second period, Lucentum managed only two points, and the triples stayed stubbornly elusive at 1 of 17 for the half. Valladolid, meanwhile, extended their lead as Lucentum’s rhythm faltered and confidence diminished.
HLA wants another victory in Alicante and continues with good feelings
Schmidt’s trio of creators worsened the visitors’ siege, leaving a non-reactive Lucentum in a troubling position at 19-35. A 6-0 run briefly revived HLA’s spirits, yet Valladolid answered with a disciplined response that prevented a comeback. Davison ended a long drought from outside with a three-pointer, prompting a pause from Paco García as the lead stretched to 32-42.
Lucentum’s resurgence proved fleeting, as the flow of the game did not mirror the late-match momentum from the previous two performances. Gudmundsson nailed a buzzer-beater three, offering a glimmer of hope before the break, and HLA headed to the locker room trailing 39-48. The team found no sustained spark and struggled to translate defensive stops into offensive gains. Valladolid remained in control as the clock wore down, with Lucentum failing to threaten the lead on a consistent basis.
Valladolid continued to dominate after the break and Lucentum could not sustain a breakthrough. There were no decisive triples to flip the script, and the final corridors of the game favored the visitors. Balint connected on a late triple attempt, while Schmidt delivered a commanding sequence that sealed the momentum in Valladolid’s favor. The scoreline climbed to 44-60, reflecting a substantial advantage for the visitors and a game plan that Lucentum could not penetrate.
Gudmundsson’s late stand kept a sliver of life for Alicante, but the overall night remained a disappointment. The team faced a bleak outlook as they prepared for the next challenge, with the need for sharper execution across all facets clear. The defeat weighed on the mood, and the squad looked toward the upcoming test against Estudiantes with a resolve to reverse the trend and restore belief in their capabilities.
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