In a tense meeting, Lucentum pressed hard to seal victory, holding the ball to win as the clock wound down. The Alicante squad trailed by 71-70 with only 16 seconds left. Guillem executed a brilliant steal, but the attack faltered, and Rakocevic attempted a desperate long-range shot that barely found its mark. HLA returned from the break with renewed vigor, yet Gatell’s personal disqualification weighed on the team during a crucial stretch. Pantzar’s relentless drives caused constant trouble for the defense, and Lucentum briefly surged ahead, only to see Valladolid regain the lead late in the game. The final period became a shootout, with Paco García’s men pushing hard to maintain advantage, but the home side could not sustain the momentum. The defeat stung—an emotionally charged loss that affected their playoff aspirations and left the audience buzzing at the Modernization Center.
Valladolid began with a strong start, while HLA remained on the attack but struggled to unlock points. Rakocevic found a solitary rhythm after nearly four minutes, and Rafa Monclova guided the first half with a decisive 7-15 run that put Valladolid ahead on the scoreboard. Pantzar’s timely plays helped even the odds, but a trio by Blaylock and a quick dunk settled the early tension, signaling that Valladolid still had a higher gear to reach. The opening quarter closed with a modest 16-21 margin in favor of Valladolid.
Triumph of Bacchus
In the ensuing exchanges, Lucentum pressed closer as Berg found lanes that exploited several lapses in the defense, while Valladolid widened the gap with two back-to-back triples that pushed the lead to 20-30. Monclova called a timeout as the momentum shifted and Lucentum looked to reassert control. The visitors maintained a comfortable margin as Pantzar’s ongoing assists kept Lucentum within reach, though the break left Valladolid ahead 35-43 and with an air of confidence that hinted at a tougher second half. The sense on the floor reflected a need for lucidity against a sharper opponent that was executing more cleanly and reading the ball better.
Back on the court, Valladolid did not ease up, and Lucentum elevated their tempo in an effort to cut the deficit. Reactions from Gatell and McDonnell brought the score to 46-51, yet Matulionis’s pressure slowed the flow, preventing a sustained comeback. De la Fuente’s unsportsmanlike play and solid defense in the final quarter briefly revived HLA, narrowing the gap to four points at 51-55 by the end of the third. The crowd grew increasingly anxious as the teams prepared for the final period.
Rakovevich delivered an offensive spark for Lucentum, even as the scoreboard showed a narrow 56-55 lead in favor of HLA. Parrado answered with a pair of three-pointers for Lucentum, while Puidet responded in kind, restoring balance. Blaylock’s misfortune in a late sequence triggered a Valladolid timeout as Monclova’s team regained their footing. The game surged to a tense 62-62 with just over four minutes remaining. Gatell picked up five fouls, complicating the late stage as Alicante’s nerves tightened, and N. attempted a late counterattack that did not fully unfold as hoped. The scoreline stood 66-66 with 2:30 left on the clock, and the atmosphere grew electric as the final minutes approached.
Parrado became a focal point for Lucentum as he delivered two baskets, though a poor three-pointer and a strong defensive stand from Valladolid kept the teams in a precarious balance. The scene intensified in the closing seconds: the ball spent precious seconds with HLA before Valladolid regained possession with 25 seconds left on the clock. A late free-throw opportunity emerged, and Steinarsson converted for Valladolid to push the margin to 70-71 with 17 seconds remaining. Guillem regained serve for HLA, giving them a final chance to steal the win, but Rakocevic’s defensive pressure produced a turnover and a hurried, ineffective shot that sealed Valladolid’s narrow victory. The arena carried the echo of what was a dramatic, edge-of-seat finish that will linger in the memory of both teams and fans alike.