Dénia Bàsquet SUMA BPM Lighting confirmed its relegation to the First Division after falling this weekend in Alicante against Lucentum (65-55), in a match marked by equality and defensive intensity, but in which the home team managed to impose its success in the decisive moments.
The team led by Eduardo Clavero and Xavier Díaz got off to a strong start, neutralizing Lucentum's initial attack. However, from the second half of the first quarter onward, the game became more evenly matched, and neither team managed to gain a clear lead until the final minutes of the match.
The score went into halftime with the score down (31-26), reflecting a tight game where the defensive effort of both teams prevailed over the fluidity of the offense. Every basket was hard-fought and valuable, amid intense play on the boards.
Dénia Bàsquet enjoyed its best moments at the start of the second half, stringing together strong offensive plays that allowed it to take the lead and build confidence. However, the Alicante team knew how to bide its time and, thanks to its accuracy from the three-point line, managed to regain control of the match.
The physical difficulties of the Dianense team - with the injury of Richard García, the indisposition of Miquel Server and the already known absence of Adrián Pérez - limited the performance in the final stretch of the third quarter, which was reached with a minimal difference (44-41) and everything to be decided.
In the final period, Lucentum showed greater freshness and offensive efficiency, building an eight-point lead that would prove decisive. Despite Dénia Bàsquet's attempts to stay in the fight, a lack of accuracy at key moments prevented them from making a comeback.
The defeat mathematically confirms Dénia Bàsquet's relegation in its debut season in the FEB Third Division. An outcome that, although expected given the level of play, does not undermine the club's commitment to a project with its own identity, based on continuity and the development of young players trained in its youth academy.
With two rounds left in the championship, the team will continue competing with the same dedication. The next match will be on Saturday at 19:30 p.m. at the Joan Fuster pavilion against ESET Ontinet de Ontinyent, in what will be the last home game of the season.
