When John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th president of the United States, he delivered a speech that would be remembered for generations. It was January 1961, and the nation faced economic challenges that required collective effort. The message was clear: every citizen had a role to play in rebuilding the country. Kennedy urged Americans not to measure the nation’s progress by what it could receive, but by what it could contribute. His famous line—“Ask what you can do for your country”—still resonates when communities confront tough times. Today, that spirit echoes in a different arena: the return of LEB Oro, Spain’s second-tier basketball league, which fans in North America and across the Atlantic are watching with renewed anticipation. This Friday marks the season opener at home against the newly promoted Rioverde Clavijo, a moment reminiscent of a memorable clash from a decade ago when three overtimes against the Rioja team crowned them with triumph. It was a heart-stopping match in Pedro Ferrándiz that left a lasting impression on Lucentum’s supporters.
HLA Alicante arrives with a refreshed lineup and a renewed sense of purpose. The club has rebuilt from the ground up, bringing in new staff, a new coach, a new sporting director, and a new president. Expectations are high as Pedro Rivero presents the squad in a kickoff match that featured Movistar Estudiantes. The team’s collective energy is evident: Rodríguez’s confidence, Harris’s pace, Gudmundsson’s scoring touch, Barro’s power, and Kostadinov’s creative flair. Gatell’s leadership shone as he guided the celebration on the hardwood, while the new head coach Antonio Pérez Caínzos gauged the locker room’s pulse and faced a squad dreaming of promotion this season. Lucentum’s inaugural letter of intent was delivered with polish, offering a glimpse of what the club could deliver in a league that is finally back in action.
The plan is straightforward: start earning points from day one by taking down Clavijo at home, and rally the city to support Lucentum every step of the way. The question fans ask now is what they can do for the team. The answer is simple: subscribe to the season, fill the stands, and cheer every game with voice and vigor. The energy in the pavilion helps lift the players, and it is that shared commitment that could carry the team through a demanding campaign.
Kennedy closed his inaugural address by appealing to both Americans and the global community: a call for generosity of strength and sacrifice that should be shared by all. The same plea rings true for Lucentum supporters over here. They expect Pérez Caínzos’ squad to bring the same level of effort and sacrifice that fans are prepared to give back every week. The hope is that the home opener will rekindle the joy and excitement of basketball, the kind of emotion that last Saturday’s game delivered in spades. Three extra seasons against Clavijo already hinted at a potential ascent to higher competition, and fans know that each game is a step in that journey. The season ahead is being approached with patience and realism—step by step, game by game. Lucentinos and Lucentinas alike should buckle in, because LEB Oro 2023–2024 holds the promise of thrilling moments and hard-fought battles against Clavijo and the rest of the league, as the season unfolds.