TM Benidorm beats PAUC and remains alive in Europe (33-32)
TM Benidorm closed 2022 with the fatigue of playing three competitions, yet the club has since reached new heights in its history. The team delivered its best league performance at Asobal, finishing in fourth place. A direct ticket to the league and to European competition is now within reach for the squad.
Fernando Latorre’s squad had already secured a European berth in 2020, but that season did not reflect full league consistency. They finished second in the Copa del Rey, yet league form lagged behind, and the continental voyage was interrupted when a coronavirus outbreak within the squad forced early elimination.
End of 2022 saw the Benidorm club secure a major sponsorship through his real estate partner, a long-held ambition of Javier Abinzano’s board. TM Group now backs the first team, reinforcing the club’s identity since September. In league play, Latorre’s side closed the season with a record points total in May, with only three Spanish powerhouses — Barça, Granollers, and Bidasoa — matching or surpassing their historic ceiling, even as they remained in a high competitive tier.
Despite the bright results, the club faced ongoing challenges. A broad restructuring of the coaching and support staff was undertaken to meet new objectives and to advance through the preliminary round into the Europa League group stage for the first time. Still, by the third quarter, the project hit some turbulence. Argentine James Lewis Parker departed for an Egyptian club after triggering his release, leaving one of TM Benidorm’s core references missing.
Benidorm started the season strongly in the league, yet the newcomers gradually dropped in form. Injuries and fatigue from dual campaigns kept players like Rubén Santos and Bernatonis under pressure, testing the squad depth and resilience. The year also saw Pepe Oliver undergo shoulder surgery late in the period, and international winger Mladen Sotic faced hurdles in joining a squad balancing travel and bureaucratic procedures that required a trip to Serbia.
TM Benidorm’s journey continued with a sense of uncertainty for 2023. The club mounted a visible effort to preserve momentum, while rebuilding on the fly to cope with a tighter schedule, injuries, and a broader European challenge. The year highlighted the value of depth in the squad as newer figures from the academy stepped into first-team roles after forced promotions, including Argentinian Santi Barceló, defender Juanma Sempere, and winger Adrián Sánchez [Citation: TM Benidorm Historical Records].
TM Benidorm is now presenting an uncertain 2023 but with a stronger platform to build from. The city and the club look ahead with a plan to stabilize the squad, recover from setbacks, and push toward a competitive midpoint in the league while aiming to uphold a steady European presence [Citation: TM Benidorm Archives].
European campaigns did not come easy. The club faced results that did not always reflect the effort invested. Despite limited squad numbers, TM Benidorm stayed competitive in the ASOBAL race and kept themselves within reach of a top-table finish, keeping hopes alive for continued European participation. The late-season push produced a mix of convincing wins and challenging defeats, underscoring the tight margins at this level [Citation: TM Benidorm Ephemeral Records].
The last stretch of the season tested the squad, with European ambitions adding pressure and resilience to the league program. Early exits from cups and some heavy defeats in domestic league games were offset by the resilience shown in close, high-stakes matches, culminating in a strong late showing that hinted at a possible resurgence in the following campaign [Citation: TM Benidorm Season Review].
Beyond the results, 2022 also marked the emergence of several young players from the academy who stepped into first-team duties out of necessity. Notable debuts included Argentinian Santi Barceló, defender Juanma Sempere, and winger Adrián Sánchez, who began their journeys in senior competition and contributed to the team’s evolving dynamic [Citation: TM Benidorm Youth Pipeline].
TM Benidorm is making history and will participate in the group stage of the EHF Europa League
Team officials and supporters alike are looking ahead with cautious optimism as the squad aims for group-stage participation in Europe’s second-tier competition. The focus remains on building a robust, adaptable team capable of competing across both domestic and European platforms [Citation: TM Benidorm European Ambitions].
The year also showcased the rise of a promising goalkeeper in Roberto Rodríguez, whose contributions have resonated beyond club confines. He earned recognition at regional levels, highlighted by a Mediterranean Games gold medal, and earned a nod on the national team World Cup preliminary list under coach Jordi Ribera [Citation: TM Benidorm Player Pathways].
With 2023 on the horizon, the team’s management remains optimistic. Plans to recharge the squad, recover from injuries, and strengthen the roster are in motion to prevent early-season instability and ensure a steadier path through the new campaign [Citation: TM Benidorm 2023 Outlook].