Lucentum faced a tough return to Alicante, coming back empty-handed after a different kind of battle with Palencia. The contest shifted in the final stretch as the Alicante crowd watched from four points down in the last minutes. After erasing a 15-point deficit, Lucentum could not clinch the decisive sequence against Palencia’s aggressive defense. This was the real nightmare for Lucentum, as seven three-pointers by a former Lucentum player helped break the HLA’s resistance. Matulionis and Guillem were sidelined by a curious technical decision, leaving Lucentum short-handed and facing a tall order on the floor. [Source: Victor Quintero]
The score differentials were evident, yet Lucentum sprinted to the finish. Palencia, meanwhile, carried a comfortable lead into the closing stages and secured a win that edged them closer to Final Four qualification. The series now heads to Alicante, where the Technification Center will host the third meeting at 20:45 on Friday.
Lucentum improved its setup, especially compared with the previous game. This allowed Schmidt to be more competitive, delivering three triples and 12 points in seven minutes against Palencia’s stingy defense. The Alicante squad came out with a markedly different vibe despite not having Matulionis, and Rakocevic contributed strong late-quarter play. In the first period, Lucentum created a hopeful contest, achieving a 21-20 balance, though Blaylock spent time on the bench due to early foul concerns.
Apart from Schmidt, Palencia started the second quarter with less offensive punch, giving HLA a window to contest. Kamba emerged as Lucentum’s chief obstacle, his plays allowing Rivero’s team to command the game early, while Schmidt connected on his fifth triple, bringing the score to 33-24. Monclova halted Palencia’s surge as Lucentum pressed, and Palencia hit its stride, reaching a comfortable 44-30 lead before the end of the period. The home team clung to a slim advantage as the first half closed.
After the break, a three from Gatell and another from Blaylock sparked a Lucentum revival. Palencia, however, answered immediately and extended the lead to 13 points at 50-37. HLA struggled to handle the host’s defense, making the match tougher to read at times.
Two three-pointers from Parrado and Berg trimmed the gap, pushing Rivero to call a timeout after Palencia saw a 15-point advantage shrink to 56-47. Lucentum seized momentum and completed an 0-11 burst with Berg and Rakocevic, narrowing the gap to 56-52 before Schmidt delivered his seventh triple to steady Palencia. HLA rallied again in the final period, cutting the margin to 60-52.
The Alicante crowd held its breath as a Voronin triple brought HLA within four with seven minutes left. Palencia faced pressure, yet Chumi Ortega blocked Lucentum’s attempts and steadied the visitors in the crucial moments. The match’s energy diverged from Friday’s events, but the outcome still flowed Palencia’s way as the late free throws stung Lucentum. The home team finished empty-handed as Alicantinos prepared for another attempt against Palencia in Friday’s showdown.
Rafa Monclova commented after the game that his squad deserved the win and showed resilience, especially in tough moments. He noted the team’s toughness and willingness to stay solvent and solid through the match. The third round at the Technification Center on Friday looms large for both teams.