Lucentum faced a tough night and suffered a third straight defeat, with a second heavy loss stacked on top. Against Estudiantes, a club that arrived with evident depth and resources, the Alicante side limped through the game. The visitors broke away in the third quarter, abandoned defense, and let Pedro Rivero’s squad run the show. Harris did his best to carry the team with moments of high quality, but the overall gap in resources and consistency proved decisive. Wizink Center felt oversized for Lucentum, and in the end their only consolation was scoring enough to avoid a complete blackout on the scoreboard.
HLA could not sustain their rhythm in the opening period and into the early second, while Estudiantes applied relentless defensive pressure. The result was a difficult path for a team that still hoped to bounce back quickly on Wednesday against Cantabria, aiming to stem a growing crisis rather than deepen it.
The start of the match suggested a different plan from what actually unfolded. Carrera’s second field goal brought early optimism for HLA in the third minute. Lucentum began strong, controlling the pace and leading the duel at 14-19 with clear direction from Harris. Lucentum’s defense initially unsettled Estudiantes, yet the home side’s individual quality surfaced as the first period closed, with Estudiantes ending the quarter trailing 24-21. There were bright moments on the Lucentum side, hinting at potential under the right circumstances.
Blood sweat and tears
During the game, deep energy and grit defined the effort. A second triple from deep helped set the tone, but Gudmunsson answered with a long-range bomb to reframe the momentum. Lucentum remained engaged and forced a timeout after a 3-9 run that briefly tilted the balance in favor of Estudiantes. As the match progressed, Estudiantes grew more composed and regained control, pushing ahead with a steady rhythm. A robust stretch around halftime established a 53-42 lead for the home team, with Francis Alonso delivering important moments that underscored Estudiantes’ growing advantage.
The second half did not bring improvement for Lucentum. The flow of the game tilted further as Estudiantes built a larger cushion. Harris continued to show flashes of individual brilliance, adding variety to his movements and pulling the team back into contention at times. A timeout called when the score read 66-50 reflected Estudiantes’ ability to keep Lucentum at bay. Harris remained the sole consistent source of inspiration for the visitors, yet his impact felt more as a hold-the-line effort than a game-changing surge. Rivero’s crew capitalized on Lucentum’s tightening defense by spreading the floor and sinking three-pointers. The home squad extended their lead as the game pressed toward the final quarter, and Lucentum’s offense appeared increasingly stifled.
With the last period underway, HLA’s resistance dissolved. Defensive pressure faded, and Estudiantes tightened the screws, leaving Lucentum with a fragile scoreboard outlook. The final minutes confirmed a second heavy defeat in a row, a result that cast a long shadow over the Alicante side and amplified concerns about its immediate prospects. Still, there remained a basic, undeniable fact: Lucentum possesses players capable of creating moments of high-level play, and a strong candidate for promotion looms ahead, demanding bigger performances and sharper execution from now on.
The lone positive note is a quick chance to rebound. Lucentum will travel to their Technical Center on Wednesday for a pivotal clash against Cantabria at 19:30. Win or lose, there is no alternative but to regroup, reset, and fight with renewed purpose in front of their home crowd and supporters. This upcoming contest will be a critical test of character and resolve for the team and its coaching staff, aiming to demonstrate resilience and a clear path forward after a demanding stretch of results. A constructive performance there could mark the turning point needed to stabilize the season and restore confidence across the organization.