At the end of a real thriller, punctuated by a double extension, the SIG Strasbourg, carried by a stratospheric Bonzie Colson and JB Maille factor X at the very end of the match, won 101 to 94 thus locking the first group place. This team has not finished making us happy!
The match that was starting showed a level of play worthy of the local Sausage fair. It screams, it gets agitated, it looks for itself, but ultimately the rendering was really very messy. It took a good 4 minutes for the SIGmen to enter their match, thanks in particular to the energy of Ish Wainright, but after 5 ‘the two teams were nevertheless neck to neck: 8-7, 5’. Latvian side unsurprisingly Allman carried his team in attack (10pts in Q1). Quick as lightning, he was the instigator of a 0-12 punctuated by a 3 + 1 acrobat to allow his team to take off: 8-17, 7 ‘. Captain Dre stopped the bleeding, but SIG Strasbourg was clearly overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and speed of Riga, which brought their lead to 10pts shortly after (10-20, 8 ‘). Nothing will be offered to the coach team Tuovi and Riga had just demonstrated in 10 ‘that they had come to Alsace to seek their qualification. End of 1st quarter: 13-22 (eval: 14-24).
Ish Wainright displayed great envy and led by example, but visitors had plenty of response. Vitols was behind the line, Ate imposed his style and finally, 3 ‘after returning to the floor, Riga was leading their boat rather well: 20-30, 13’. Neo SIGman Ike Udanoh was back in the game after an entry that won’t go down in history and clearly it was a lot better. Its association with Léo even allowed SIG Strasbourg to pass a 9-2 in 2’50 which set the record straight a little: 29-32, 16’30. This 2nd quarter was much more to the advantage of our team, which was finding its goodwill a little more and Ike was no stranger to it, surprisingly for a newcomer to the group. Leo Cavalière equalized a few seconds before the break and it took shots from the inevitable Allman (14pts after 20 ‘) for Riga to switch to the lead. Half time: 37-39 (score: 45-39).
The return of the break saw Bonzie Colson take control of the Strasbourg game. It was he who allowed the team to return to the front (41-39, 21’30), but unfortunately the game in defense showed some largesse. Riga took advantage and quickly the good start of the period was sacrificed by a run of the visitors who stung, 2-11 in 2’30 of the worst effect: 43-50, 24 ‘. After 8pts from Bonzie, it was our captain who took out the toolbox to find solutions. At 3pts, in the paint, on the rebound, Dré was on all fronts: that’s the captain, ladies and gentlemen! Thanks to him, SIG Strasbourg made a new comeback to blow in the neck of Latvians: 51-53, 27 ‘. The end of the period was pleasant for the Strasbourg followers because their team gave themselves, fought, wet the jersey and was exemplary of self-sacrifice. Symbol of this good period, DeAndre planted a buzzer beater to allow the team to finish in the lead in the 30th minute. This team has heart and puts its guts on the field! End of 3rd quarter: 60-58 (71-61 rating).
The last period promised to be tense. Riga’s anger was escalating and our players were trying their best to cope. But the visitors showed a high quality level of play and when SIG Strasbourg suffered a 3-11, we could feel the difficult end of the match looming: 63-69, 34 ‘. The spirits were heating up, the trash talking was more and more present and the quibbling of ribs became commonplace. On the Strasbourg side, Bonzie Colson was in MVP mode. Author of an incredible 2nd half, he turned into a do-everything factory to allow SIG Strasbourg to once again erase their delay and equalize again: 71-71, 36 ‘. Each basket of a team was echoed on the other side during a high level final straight. 73-73, 75-75 then 77-77 at the 38 ‘, very clever the one who could predict who would emerge victorious from this beautiful game of crank! SIG Strasbourg would have the opportunity to win the cup, especially as Riga’s wrist was shaking on the throw line. With a 4/10 in this exercise, the Latvians left a lot of ammunition on the way and 11 seconds from the buzzer, Strasbourg was at a very small point from the evening opponent: 79-80, 39’49. But, while Skele thought to offer victory to his team, Bonzie Colson once again crucified Riga with a triple to tie with 6 seconds to go: 82-82. NO BUT YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS BONZIE?!?!? The last action giving nothing all these beautiful little people went straight into overtime. IRRESPIRABLE! Score at the end of regular time: 82-82.
Strasbourg were the first team to score thanks to DeAndre at 3pts but Riga had nothing to do with Strasbourg thrusts. The Whites remained glued to the SIGmen basques and 2 ‘from the end of the extra time the two teams were still tied: 88-88, 43’. This score was still the same at the start of the last minute and this thriller was going to last a little longer since after 45 ‘nobody was doing well: incredible scenario! End of 1st extra time: 88-88 (score 100-91).
The ubiquitous Bonzie Colson set the example with his 31pts in the end, and this 2nd overtime started on the hats of wheel for the SIG Strasbourg who spent a run in Riga. 10-2 in 3 ‘: it feels good (98-91, 48). JB Maille showed himself to be the X factor at the end of the match by taking out the right defenses and scoring two very important baskets. And, at the end of the night, SIG Strasbourg won this match on the final score from 101 to 94 (evaluation: 119-94).
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A victory synonymous with first place in Group E for SIG Strasbourg. MVP of this match Bonzie Colson, 31pts, 7rbs, 4ints will have celebrated in his own way and in the most beautiful way his birthday during this match but he was not alone. Jaromir Bohacik was efficient and clutched at 3pts (16pts), DeAndre set an example as a good captain, Ish and Léo did… Ish and Léo, Ike Udanoh did rather well on his first outing under his new colors and let us not forget especially JB Maille the X factor of the 2nd extension which destroyed by him only the last hopes of Riga. BRAVO GENTLEMEN!
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