Once upon a time there was a bunch of friends on a mission. A long and perilous mission of 10 months, a history rich in beautiful chapters. Alas, not all stories always end well and the last chapter closed in Final 4 of the season is also the saddest of their journey. Indeed, the heroes of this column, our SIGmen ended their story in the semi-finals of Jeep® ELITE after falling against LDLC ASVEL (83-67). A defeat, as hard as it is, should not make us forget one thing: this season we have vibrated… This season we have reconciled… This season, this story is theirs, it is ours, it is yours: Thank you SIGmen!
The beautiful story could not begin without a beautiful anecdote: Brandon Jefferson was back. After 6 weeks of absence, the elf from SIG Strasbourg even found his place in the 5 major: the chef’s surprise by Lassi Tuovi! And the number 3 of the SIG Strasbourg signed his return of a triple in imbalance of any beauty. The two teams were artillery, but after 4 ‘nobody stood out: 8-8. On the other hand it was very quickly clear that Amine Noua and Antoine Diot were not there to string pearls my friends. With 15pts between them after 7 ‘of play and especially a scathing 9-0, LDLC ASVEL took off a little: 17-10, 7’. It didn’t take more to see coach Tuovi take his 1is timeout. The 8 losses of balls in the quarter weighed down our game and we were very happy to see Captain Dre stop this run at 1’25 from the end of the quarter (19-12). A lesser good because the damage was done and the SIGmen were pushed back into their 22 at the Fin du 1is quarter-time: 21-12 (score: 22-11).
David Lighty and others gradually raised the tone and the SIGmen were losing control more and more. Errors of judgment, open shots refused, markets and other filthy things tainted our game. We did not recognize the beautiful Strasbourg mechanics. The problem even got bigger and bigger when Hayes pitched a 2 + 1 that gave his team 14pts ahead: 28-14, 13’30. Lansdowne tried to sound the revolt and Jefferson took the lead 3pts 5 ‘from the break. We were starting to see the SIGmen start to wake up, while Bonzie FINALLY scored his 1st points (30-21, 15 ‘). A start, but only a beginning. Indeed, the Rhodaniens did not slow down and Bako walked on our interiors to tear off the circle and stay the course: 36-23, 17’30. And even if we made a very slight close-up afterwards, it was logically the players of LDLC ASVEL who led to the half time: 43-31 (score: 46-32). Hey oh guys! We haven’t toiled all this season to come and die like that! A little pride!
The intentions were a little laudable coming back from the break. Bako swallowed the rebounds with disconcerting ease and a bit annoying. But, without making noise, and with the blows of prize-winners, the SIGmen gradually erased their delay: 49-42, 24’30. Casually, the mismanagement seen in 1time halftime had not destroyed our chances and Ish Wainright intended to show that he did not really want to be on vacation tonight. The muscular interior of Strasbourg put everything in order and at 3’30 from the end of the period SIG Strasbourg began to blow in the necks of Blacks and Whites: 51-47, 26’30. Do you think this was going to worry our adversaries too much? Oh no, they’ve seen more in their previous 81 games this season. Killing in the bud any form of Strasbourg rebellion, they passed a 12-0 which hurt… very badly… The period was without appeal to their advantage, facing the SIGmen who had no more gasoline in the engine. Fin du 3th quarter-time: 65-49 (score: 75-43).
The last quarter was just confirmation of what had just been demonstrated for 30 minutes. On this match the SIGmen could not offer a fight on equal terms. The ogre Lyonnais imposed his style, his strength, his experience to leave SIG Strasbourg at the gates of a final which would have been a great reward for this team which will have made us vibrate this season. Time was ticking and we came to watch the last steps of this last dance of a 20/21 roster which reconciled the SIGArmy with its team (75-54, 35 ‘). Their story would have deserved a better ending, but few people would have believed at the start of the season that SIG Strasbourg could fail with 1 victory for the title of European Champion and the title of French Champion. Glass half full or half empty, it’s all about perception. Of course the disappointment of this defeat is immense and that DeAndre Lansdowne and his gang deserved a final chapter in their story more scintillating. But in the end it is LDLC ASVEL which will join Dijon in the final. SCORE FINAL : 83-67 (éval : 98-65).
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