Andy Sigiscar in Neal Sako’s warm-up outfit. Keziah Ekissi with that of… Gerry Blakes. CB, this Wednesday March 13, made with the means at hand. The young guard of the Espoirs – Sigiscar and Ekissi, but also Bordes and l’Etang – made the trip to Alsace to strengthen a group decimated by forfeits: Neal Sako, Gérald Ayayi and Nick Johnson, present at Rhénus but still too just to get back into competition.
And yet, this match is crucial for Cholet’s future in the Champions League. It is just as much for the SIG, condemned to win its last two matches – CB then Bursa – to keep a slim hope of progressing to the quarter-finals. The Alsatians also attack with all their feet, targeting Nzekwesi inside – the only professional pivot of the Cholet squad – who receives a first foul after only 14 seconds of play. Strasbourg also finds solutions on the outside , which allows him to already be at +6 after less than two minutes (8-2). Cholet does not panic and puts his game in place to get back in front (8-9, 5th, then 12-14, 7th). But the rotations hurt the visitors, who conceded a 13-0 in 180 seconds (25-14, 9th). A winning basket from Mateo Bordes, at the very end of the quarter, lightens the score a little (25-17, 10th).
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In the process, Strasbourg finds long-distance spaces – Lacombe, then Hooker – and the score begins to rise again (33-19, 12th). The executives then take their responsibilities: TJ Campbell scores 5 points in a row, Hruban and Goudou-Sinha follow suit, and here CB is back at -4 (38-34, 17th). Vile and his players are suffering, but they are hanging on: at the break, they are certainly behind, but still in the match (42-38, 20th).
Cholet will have to win in Malaga next Tuesday
But a winning basket by Lacombe, followed by a loss of the ball, put them back in trouble as soon as they returned from the locker room (47-38, 22nd). CB loses the thread a little, and despite an inspired TJ Campbell (14 points and 17 evaluation after 24 minutes), Strasbourg distances itself thanks to the paws of Lacombe (60-45, 25th). Once again, Cholet refuses to give up and relies in particular on the skill of Hruban (3/4 to 3 points after three quarters) to nibble (63-57, 28th). Attacking the final straight, victory is still possible (65-60, 30th).
She moves away a little after Hooker’s inspirations and Invernizzi’s first basket of the match (70-60, 32nd). Physically struggling, CB defends a little less well (80-67, 35th). But like a hyper-active De Sousa, the Maine-et-Loire team throws its last strength into the battle (82-74, 36th, then 84-77, 37th). A basket doubled by a foul obtained by Akin at 2’48” seems to sound the death knell for Cholet’s hopes (90-79, 38th). In fact, CB will not return. Hoping for the return of Sako and perhaps Johnson next Tuesday, we will have to win in Malaga, and hope that Strasbourg does it again this time against Bursa.
THE OTHER MATCH
Earlier in the day, Malaga had all the difficulty in the world to win in Turkey, on the ground of Bursa (76-80). A success synonymous with qualification for the quarter-finals for the Spaniards. Occurring before kick-off at Rhénus, this victory also left Strasbourg, at that time, still with chances of qualifying, and allowed CB to keep control of its destiny.
THE LAST DAY
Tuesday March 19 : 20h30, Malaga – CB et Strasbourg – Bursa.
2024-03-14 01:22:14
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