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You watch, eyes fixed on the scene, while the stadium hums with a history that runs deeper than a single game. The greatest Lucentino icon, the pillar who defended the jersey and stirred fan devotion, stepped aside as a captain the CT floor would not see again. The name Peter Llompart rose to the fore, nine after nine becoming a symbol, a legend who left the game to protect it from being misread in years to come. The moment carried a quiet sadness, a farewell that felt earned and necessary, even as the crowd carried him in memory.
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Lucentum parts with its greatest idol, guiding the team through a backdoor farewell: Pedro Llompart
Steinarsson may not be Mallorcan, and he isn’t the one who has logged over 200 games with HLA, nor does he dominate interior lanes in the same way. Yet last night he carried himself with a calm that belied the moment, stepping forward when needed to shoulder a weight that perhaps no one else could bear. The Icelandic director, in his thirties, demonstrated that he could assume responsibility and guide a team through a difficult stretch, proving himself capable of filling the vacancy left behind by an irreplaceable figure.
Lucentum pressed on, turning to David Varela’s speed and transition as a quick avenue to points, while aiming to keep the three-pointer in play at the first good opening. Monclova remained stubborn, prioritizing a traditional, physical approach, and his side found it a challenge to breathe through Lucentum’s rhythm after three plays of pressure, a testament to a team that could rely on one clear offensive thread yet stay dangerous on several fronts.
A pavilion that surrendered: Pedro Llompart drew endless applause from Lucentian fans
Fairly excited. Smart, smiling, aware of the moment, grateful to teammates and to the people who offered a standing ovation on a challenging Tuesday in CT. Llompart earned well-deserved praise as a once-in-a-generation Lucentino icon after talks with the organization to wrap up the remaining year on his contract fell through. The atmosphere had already been set with a silent roar—the kind of moment that makes the room feel larger than life, a tribute to a master-level playmaker who helped define an era.
HLA Alicante rediscovered momentum after a rough stretch in Santander, shaping their defense by rotating looks and matching personnel to disrupt the fluency of Albacete’s scoring. The game showed a familiar pattern: a well-prepared team could counter an opponent’s best moves, while the other side found its rhythm again only when it stopped overthinking each possession. Monclova’s diversified lineups, combining collective action with bursts of individual brilliance from Steinarsson, MacDonell, Borovnjak and others, kept balance at the core of the performance.
David Varela’s ongoing gamble for a fleeting win and the foreign note that once defined Lucent’s coach in Alicante
In the early stages the home side established control, closing the first raids with a solid 7-0 run and building a lead that expanded to double digits. The local team’s growth reflected the field dominance demonstrated throughout the match. The visitors faced a cold spell when the block offered resistance but failed to convert, and a sequence where Borovnjak’s misstep caused a moment of frustration did not derail the game. The ensuing free throws and possessions did not swing the outcome in the visitors’ favor.
The strategy room focused on sharper execution and a steadier finish, but HLA Alicante kept their intensity high and worked to tighten transitions. Monclova’s ability to read the court was on display as he adjusted defenses and pressed the pace when the moment demanded.
Lucentum overcame a late-third dip and stayed unscathed through the final period
Serbian guards with Portuguese passports drew attention as the game progressed, as did Monclova’s decision to rely on Stopless to anchor the defense and improve the balance across the front and back. The milestones usually earned over four quarters materialized in front of a crowd that understood the stakes. Joventut’s younger staff helped ease tensions and reinforce the frontline, keeping the team resilient and focused. An improbable outside shot late in the game kept Valera’s group in the frame for a successful finish.
There was a sense that the night would be remembered for the emotional farewell and a strategic victory that could redefine the season. The coach’s calm guidance under pressure, paired with the players’ disciplined execution, produced a result that felt earned and meaningful for the club’s supporters. The performance underscored how a team can honor its past while nurturing its future, a balance that defined the night on the CT floor.
DATA SHEET
► (86) HLA Alicante (22 + 27 + 15 + 20): Guillem Arcos (2), McDonnell (17), Matulionis (7), Steinarsson (16), Borovnjak (10), Chapela (3), Parrado (6), Gatell (2), Berg (5) and Blaylock (18).
► (77) Well Arenas Albacete (16 + 22 + 21 + 14): Blatt (9), Eric Knudsen (11), Raitanen (14), Carranza (2), Santana (10), Clark (10), Mejías (2), Guerrero (-), Sima (-), Moreno (-), Aurrecoechea (11) and Jacobs (8).
►Referees: Mikel Añigueral, Antonio Zamora and Javier Villanueva. Without being destroyed.
►Pavilion: Pedro Ferrandiz. About 1,500 spectators in the stands.
THE BEST
►The coach’s capacity to steer through moments of crisis. Rafa Monclova’s quick tactical reads and the players’ execution helped secure the win.
DATA
►103 team assessments. HLA Alicante finished with nearly 50 percent shooting from the field, a sign of efficient ball movement and decision-making under pressure.
MVP
►Sean McDonnell stood out with a complete line: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 fouls in thirty minutes, a steady engine behind the defense and on offense.
(Citations: Official game notes and post-match reports from Lucentum coverage.)