Davison brings a smile back after a tough stretch as the team returned to action with another memorable battle. The American earned a late free kick with just one second remaining, finishing with 27 points, a 31 efficiency rating, and five triples that propelled Lucentum to a hard-won win over Gipuzkoa. Despite Gipuzkoa’s dominance across many stretches, a critical error in the final minute swung the result in Alicante’s favor. What looked like overtime soon became a personal showdown, underscoring HLA Alicante’s resilience. Davison and Gudmundsson stood out in the closing quarter as Harris amplified the edge, and Adrià Rodríguez contributed 17 brave points, signaling his growing desire to log extended minutes for the team in Alicante.
From the opening whistle, the duel brimmed with intensity, ball control, and speed from both sides. Barro, Gatell, and Barcello formed a formidable trio of defenders as Davison sparked moments of inspiration. The defenses carried the game more than the offenses, yet Gipuzkoa pressed ahead and boosted their shooting accuracy, leaving the scoreboard at 9-17 early on. Lucentum struggled to convert in one room, posting nine pyrrhic points with seven from Davison as the first ten minutes closed with Lucentum scoring just 4 of 19 goals.
Yecla’s amulet
Mar Galindo
The second period began with a different energy. The scoreline stood at 0-10 as Adrià Rodríguez produced a quick burst of skill, turning the tide to make it 19-17 within just over two minutes. Lucentum’s rhythm was unrecognizable compared to the opening quarter, while Gipuzkoa proved that their five straight wins were no accident. The game’s dynamics shifted further when Balint was disqualified following two unsportsmanlike incidents, allowing Gipuzkoa to seize a temporary advantage and push the score toward a larger gap before halftime, 24-32. Caínzos halted play due to unsettled momentum as the home crowd looked on. Gipuzkoa held the wider margin, 27-37, before two timely three-pointers from Gudmundsson offered a lifeline and brought the break to 33-39. Lucentum managed to claw back with outside shots from Davison and Gudmundsson, but the Alicante squad faced a stingy opponent powered by Aurrecoechea.
HLA Alicante aimed to close the gap and raise the stakes in the third period. Davison and Gudmundsson kept the pace high, and an 8-2 start after the break nudged Gipuzkoa into a tight position. The score at halftime read 41-41, with both sides exchanging blows in a balanced duel. Gipuzkoa’s defense remained stubborn, yet Lucentum found moments of offensive clarity as the game stayed within reach. The second half displayed a scene of maximum equality at 50-49 after Lucentum’s strongest quarter, leaving everything left to decide in the final minutes.
In the fourth quarter, Harris delivered two straight three-pointers at the outset, and Barro widened the gap to 60-55. Adrià Rodríguez continued to guard with intensity, while Gipuzkoa kept pressing. Harris struck again with another triple, leaving five minutes on the clock and a slender 63-59 lead. Caínzos unleashed his full arsenal to control the closing minutes as Gipuzkoa faced a 0-8 run that pushed the game toward a breathtaking finish at 67-67. Davison answered with a three-pointer, only for Barcello to respond with a sensational strike with five seconds remaining. A decisive foul by Vrankic sent Davison to the free-throw line to seal a hard-earned victory on Pedro Ferrándiz court, a moment greeted with raucous celebration from the fans.
HLA ALICANTE
Serrano (0), Harris (11), Davison (27), Gudmundsson (14); Bercy (0), Balint (2), Gatell (2), Adrià Rodríguez (4), Kostadinov (8), Barro (3), Hook (0).
GUUK GIPUZKOA
Barcello (10), Carlson (5), Oroz (7), Sturuz (2), Motos (10); Ansorregui (9), Vrankic (9), Harrell (0), Aurrecoechea (16), Marcius (2).
quarter marker 1 9-17 2 24-22 3 17-10 4 21-21
Referees: Paula Lema, Cristian Martín and Fernando Martínez.
mansion: Pedro Ferrandiz
[Cited: Official league records for the game between HLA Alicante and Guuk Gipuzkoa, with full box score and play-by-play available from league archives.]