Lucentum continues to be still. The Alicante squad returns from a setback to endure another defeat, leaving players with a sour aftertaste against a Granada side that didn’t need to rush. They secured the win with ease and without drama. Llompart’s absence left HLA adrift, but it wasn’t the only issue. It was another forgettable night for the Lucentinos, starting poorly, showing little intensity, uneven in attack, and lacking soul. Even though Granada delivered one of its poorest showings this season, they never looked vulnerable and Lucentum never found a way to compete. HLA failed to wake up and once again looked disjointed. The result stung, shaping a weekend where playoff hopes took another hit.
HLA opened with two low-energy quarters, featuring a leaky defense and an unreliable offense that was only steadied by Hearst, who scored 13 on the game’s opening sequence. Granada proved superior in every facet from the start and even forced Gonzalo García de Vitoria to leave early after a 13-6 start. Diaz and Ellisor did not spare Lucentum, who somehow remained in the contest thanks to Hearst and a few bright individual moments. The first period closed 27-23 with a glimmer of hope.
HLA’s defense looked slightly better in the second period, but the offense regressed. Lucentinos managed just eight points, and Cristian Díaz sparked a 8-1 run with back-to-back triples, widening Granada’s lead. The Alicante side managed to steady their defense briefly but lost in attack what they gained on defense. Neither Hearst nor Matulionis found rhythm this quarter, and Granada pushed the advantage to a maximum of 13 points, 42-29. Halftime left a sour mood for HLA, especially with Llompart sidelined.
Lucentum did not start the third with a disaster, trimming the gap to 0-6 and signaling a possible comeback as the score read 42-37. Pablo Pin called a timeout as Granada appeared vulnerable. The attempted revival by HLA was short-lived; a 13-0 run soon put Granada back in control, and the lead swelled to 55-37 as García de Vitoria’s men regained momentum.
HLA carried little belief in turning the result around with a stiff barrier in attack against a stubborn opponent. With the match nearly decided, the final tally stood at 57-44, leaving the visitors with distant options.
Actor Zaid Hearst fleeing the war in Ukraine to join HLA Alicante
The dynamics of the night did not change in the final quarter. Granada remained unfazed by its scoring struggles, while Lucentum, plagued by defensive rebounds and an unreliable offense, could not create the necessary momentum. Granada maintained a steady 12-point edge as HLA repeatedly missed chances, and the clock ticked away with little to alter the result. The sense of a potential comeback never materialized, and the crowd’s optimism faded as the game wore on.
Lucentum had long since lost its spark. Pedro Ferrándiz’s mood shifted as news of fixtures looming at Coruña spread; another loss would almost certainly push HLA out of playoff contention.