Lucentum never gave up, even as the game slipped away at moments. They trailed by 18, and a heart-stopping three at the final second could have forced overtime. The spirit of this team lingered, a spark that kept fans on the edge of their seats. From the opening minutes, HLA found itself matched against a talent that felt almost unstoppable, with Burgos presenting a full arsenal. The duel seemed decided early, yet HLA dared to dream of a dramatic third-quarter surge, trimming the deficit to seven points. A hallmarked moment, some called it extraordinary, but Burgos remained a step ahead. The match never became a calm cruise for Lucentum; instead, Burgos showed why they were operating on another level. Still, HLA answered the bell, pressed the pace, and refused to let the game end quietly. They closed to within three in the final moments, with Davison unleashing a shot that could have changed the night if it had dropped. The Grand Lucentum squad never surrendered and struck fear into a pavilion packed with more than 8,000 spectators.
When tip-off arrived, Lucentum opened with confidence. Lapornik and Vene buried two quick three-pointers, giving the home side an early edge at 13-7. Gudmundsson carried the Alicante club with seven consecutive points, keeping Burgos honest. Harris added a triple to ease the tension at 16-9, and Vene answered again. Burgos found a rhythm late in the opening frame, as Adala Moto and Speight showcased their quality and pushed the lead to 26-18. Lucentum found itself stifled in the final minutes of the first quarter, allowing Burgos to extend the cushion to 28-18. The visitors surged ahead, and a late burst by Burgos kept Lucentum reeling, widening the gap to 36-24. The surefire break came with Burgos taking a dominant 46-28 advantage as the first half ended. Burgos maintained control at 52-36, with Lucentum struggling to slow down a torrent of triples and movements that left the Alicante side searching for answers. Nine three-pointers by Burgos in the first two quarters underscored the challenge HLA faced.
Mar Galindo
HLA found a spark in the third quarter. They surged to within nine points of Burgos, closing 62-53 thanks to a 10-17 run that exploited Burgos’ brief rest period. Lucentum gained a foothold as Lapornik’s growing influence kept the game on edge, and the third concluded with Burgos clinging to a 72-65 lead. Gudmundsson and Davison drove the late push, lifting the mood inside the arena.
The comeback hopes hit a snag as Burgos reasserted control with a burst from beyond the arc, pushing the lead to 14 points and squeezing every HLA opportunity. Davison remained a key weapon for Lucentum, but the game grew tense and the chances for a miraculous night dwindled. Alicante’s defense held up at moments, but Burgos’ constant pressure and balance kept the advantage safe. Lucentum’s supporters kept faith, cheering through the grind, even as the scoreboard stubbornly stuck in Burgos’ favor. The Burgos unit synchronized its offense and defense with confidence, answering every challenge and never abandoning the lead. The night’s momentum shifted only briefly when Lucentum threatened to threaten again, but Burgos responded with poise and discipline.
With the clock dwindling to critical minutes, Lucentum found a glimmer: a three-pointer from Davison pulled the score to within three with about 20 seconds left, a moment that felt like a possible turning point. Yet Burgos held steady, and Davison’s last attempt to force overtime was rejected at the rim. The final whistle confirmed Burgos’ win, but Lucentum walked off the floor with evidence of grit, resilience, and a stubborn refusal to fade. The Alicante team delivered a notable performance in defeat, signaling that their ball movement and energy could trouble stronger squads on another night. Burgos, meanwhile, extended their advantage and demonstrated why they were widely respected for their depth and execution in late-game situations.
Source: match report from the league archive, with attribution to the respective clubs for the game’s official record.