2023 stands out in Eldense’s history as a year that left a lasting mark on the club and its people. Eldense Sports Club closed a chapter at the Nuevo Pepico Amat that fans will recall for generations, as the team gathered on June 15 with a clear dream: return to the Second Division and professional football after six decades. The night felt monumental, a bold moment charged with raw emotion. Fernando Estévez’s side earned their third straight promotion after extra time against Real Madrid Castilla, Raúl González Blanco’s famed reserve squad. Eldense spent most of the campaign atop the table, yet in the final stretch they missed direct promotion, securing a playoff spot instead. They defeated Celta B in the opening round and, in the final, showed superior form to the white reserve team. Juanto Ortuño’s goal in the 114th minute of extra time sealed the decisive victory. The city celebrated with pride, and Eldense carried that momentum into the 2023-24 season, finishing the first half in fifteenth place, four points above the relegation line, building a steady course toward stability in the league above.
The season took a different turn for Elche, who marked their centenary with a demanding campaign that left them near the bottom of the standings. Three coaches—Francisco, Pablo Machín, and Sebastián Beccacece—were unable to spark a dramatic revival. After three seasons in the top tier, they dropped back to the Second Division. The Argentine coach, brought in to guide a rapid return to the first division, saw the latter half of 2023 disappointingly underperform; Elche never managed to crack the top six. The opening period of the year was uneven, and they finished thirteenth, four points shy of the promotion playoffs. For the people of Elche, 2023 brought a mix of joy and sting, with moments of triumph tempered by near-misses. As 2024 begins, the focus remains on restoring stability in the second tier and laying groundwork for a potential ascent back to the top flight.
Hercules’ long, arduous journey through a stormy sea of expectations
What should have been Paco Peña’s first full year steering the Hércules project quickly ran into rough seas. Ángel Rodríguez’s election and the interim period under Lolo Escobar did little to clarify a path forward. The club entered 2023 with modest hopes of climbing back toward relevance, but a difficult winter highlighted gaps in defensive cohesion, limited attacking intent, and heavy expectations around aging assets. With relegation looming, the squad decided to regroup from scratch. The coach who had been tasked with directing the ship left for Algeciras, citing a lack of rhythm in Alicante. Rubén Torrecilla stepped in to reshape the narrative, a story still evolving as the year ended with sorrow, dramatic change, and a sense that a new chapter could finally be taking form.
HLA Alicante sustains its growth trajectory, on and off the field
In 2023, HLA Alicante kept advancing on two fronts: sport and community outreach. The club reached the playoffs but could not seal promotion. The key obstacle came from Pedro Rivero’s Palencia, who blocked their progress in the playoff round. Under Daniel Adriasola, the organization reset and reorganized its sporting department, welcoming Asier Alonso as director of sport and bringing in fresh faces from the Real Betis Baloncesto network, including Araberri and Antonio Pérez Caínzos. Only Edu Gatell remained from the prior squad, and the season closed with steadily rising form. Beyond the field, the club expanded its social footprint, drawing more supporters to the Pedro Ferrándiz facility and strengthening community initiatives that connect the club with its fans. The message is clear: HLA Alicante is building a sustainable platform for growth—on the pitch and in the neighborhood alike.