Heavy defeat at home for Limoges CSP, beaten by Nanterre at Beaublanc, 93-105. An almost misleading score, as Massimo Cancellieri’s men failed, and the visitors could have won even more widely. The qualification for the Leader’s Cup is suspended on the result of Strasbourg in Paris this Sunday January 15th.
To be frank, and trivial, it was almost the most “disgusting” match ever seen in nearly twenty years at Beaublanc!
However, in the end, this defeat, although without appeal, ultimately leaves a mixed impression.
Like Massimo Cancellieri who, in a press conference, began by saying that he “didn’t really want to talk“, but who immediately went on to say that he “wasn’t upset though“.
Because it is an understatement to say that the CSP was double, triple, we do not know how many, so bad at times that giving some (rare) hopes to others.
Two figures, two moments of the meeting:
Twenty-five points behind for Limoges at halftime (33-58). “Just” (very, very in quotes) nine with three minutes to go, when a crazy and senseless comeback then seemed possible…
As a reminder, the two teams were not on the same dynamic at kick-off.
Nanterre remained on three defeats in a row, certainly sometimes short, and was moreover and especially deprived of four of its players of the five major, all injured on fractures!
Conversely, Limogesincluding the European Cup, overrated on a few successes, sometimes lucky, but most deserving.
The only shadow on the board came from this incredible news concerning Desi Rodriguezwhose ankle was known to be affected, but whose operation we learned, urgently Thursday evening, for a rare and painful intestinal intussusception, i.e. a reversal of part of his intestine!
On paper, the CSP was the favourite, especially since a success would have sealed its participation in the next Leader’s Cup.
Did the players, unconsciously, have their minds set on the beauty of next Wednesday at Ludwigsburg ? Did they think the Nanterre team was so diminished that, whatever happened, they would beat it in the end?
Still, after scoring the first two points of the game, Limoges went through a real black hole, or went on off, or on who knows what, but certainly not in Championship mode, not even in training mode. !
A first quarter lost 31-17with a starving address of 47%, including a zero point at three points, a completely open and offered racket, a non-existent defense, and an attack without no response against the Nanterre areawhich even the most uneducated of Limoges supporters had nevertheless foreseen, just like the staff, and which nevertheless lasted for forty long and interminable minutes!
The sequel was hardly less worse, and even then, because despite its lack of rotation, Nanterre unfolded, in the wake of Benjamin Year and especially of his American rear, Keith Hornsbythe two having never left the field, and the second having scored 23 points in twenty minutes.
Finally, this 33-58 at the break, although hideous, was not so expensive paid…
What could have saved Limoges is that instead of getting angry, Massimo Cancellieri almost admitted defeat, and offered his men to play another match in the second half. At least that’s what he admitted at a press conference.
Save, because after the first two pickets, the CSP offered, if not great wines, at least honest table wines.
Already, there were only (are we really writing this?) twenty points behind at the end of the third quarter, 60-80, a lesser evil.
And although unlikely, the feat made Beaublanc shudder for a moment, when Limoges returned to the nine points gap previously mentioned…
But weary, neither the referees (sometimes), nor even less Miralem Halilovicwho had taken over from Hornsby (28 points in total for the first, 33 for the second), did not let this sweet dream live.
And finally the hall still applauded its players, those who ended up so close, so far, at 93-105.
From an accounting point of view, it is of course a very wrong operation for Limoges.
Before this day, the CSP was in 7th place, and only needed one success to ensure its participation in the Leader’s Cup.
After this setback, the club is 8th and provisionally last qualified.
Provisionally, because everything will depend on the opposing meeting, this Sunday January 15, at 5 p.m., Paris in Strasbourg.
If by chance the Alsatians were to win with 19 points more than their opponent, it would be the end of Limoges hopes!
That said, this objective, this Leader’s Cup, is not the most important concern of the CSP!
No, THE match to be considered is of course the “beautiful”, the support match which awaits the men of Massimo Cancelliri, Wednesday evening in Germany, in Ludwigsburg, the one which will decide the European future of Limoges .
And even if it means having lost this Saturday evening, even if it means having collected more than 100 points, the transalpine coach recognized that “it was better there than the next one. Provided you win the next one, of course!“.
Decidedly, Massimo, he who had affirmed that he was not the Messiah, speaks, if not of the Gospel, at least of gold!
