Lucentum finished the streak with a clear setback, falling to Gipuzkoa with a performance that looked equal parts brave and on edge. The Alicante squad had a troubling night shooting, hitting just 27 percent from the field, and their defense lacked the bite needed to slow a balanced Gipuzkoa attack. Lucentinos showed spurts of grit, staying competitive throughout, but the last period turned into a procedural endgame rather than a fight for a comeback. The night left a sour taste and questions about the team’s consistency.
HLA opened with Borovnjak as a key starter and lock man, but he seemed far from his best form, struggling to recapture the energy of the team’s previous outings. Gipuzkoa jumped on Lucentum early, grabbing a 11-4 edge after a quick burst. Monclova called for a timeout to steady things as the deficit grew. Lucentino tried to answer, yet the team could not respond with the necessary rhythm. Gipuzkoa expanded the lead on a brutal 14-0 run, pushing the score to 18-4. HLA faced serious issues on both ends, and the coach halted play again with the scoreboard reading 21-6 amid rising tension. The late quarter featured hesitant, misfiring attempts from HLA, who closed the period at 24-13 as percentages sank to 1-of-8 from three and 4-of-11 from two.
HLA Alicante seeks their fifth consecutive win at Gipúzkoa
Lucentum found themselves behind, 29-13, as the first half pressed on, but Matulionis and Blaylock exploited Gipuzkoa’s tighter defense to shrink the gap. A sequence of composed plays allowed Gipuzkoa to keep a measure of control, yet the visitors showed resilience and rallied back with renewed energy. Blaylock sparked another push to drag the game back toward parity, but Gipuzkoa never surrendered and headed to the locker room with a more comfortable 44-32 advantage. The mood in the Lucentum locker room was heavy, a contrast to more confident nights from the recent past. Gipuzkoa carried the tempo and found answers when Lucentum tried to push back.
Coming out of the break, Lucentum struggled to impose themselves. A quick sequence enabled Gipuzkoa to extend the margin, creating a larger distance as the third period unfolded. The visiting squad faced a daunting task, with the home team finding success in transition and in the paint. The scoreboard read 61-43 late in the third as Lucentum searched for a spark. Monclova and his teammates showed signs of life, but the night remained challenging as Gipuzkoa continued to widen the gap. The total emphasis shifted to a late push rather than an early comeback, and the atmosphere inside the arena reflected the difficulty of climbing back from a sizeable deficit midgame.
regicide
San Sebastian controlled the tempo as the game wore on, and Lucentum struggled to mount a consistent offensive threat. The shooting woes persisted, leaving the team unable to capitalize on any opportunities. Rebounding battles remained uneven, and the defense failed to corral opponents who found rhythm in the half-court and in transition. Sollazzo and Jaworski maintained effort for all forty minutes, but the court belonged to San Sebastian as Gipuzkoa asserted its authority. The final minutes stretched out, and the Monclova group could only chase the score while trying to salvage some pride from a tough night. The result reinforced the impression of a team that needed to regroup and refocus ahead of the next contest. Lucentum would shift attention to a Saturday matchup against TAU Castelló, seeking to reassert their previous form and restore confidence.