The noisy rivals of Nanterre may, at each derby, mock the hushed atmosphere of Marcel-Cerdan, rarely has the Palais des Sports de Levallois sounded so empty. No one to resume the songs spit out by the sound system. No noise coming down from the stands to cover two amounts of the floor. In free throws, the silence was only broken by comments, live on the radio, of the journalist from France Bleu Limousin. From this funny meeting behind closed doors, the fault of the virus, the fault of the curfew, the Metropolitans emerged victorious, 82-76, and join Dijon at the head of the Jeep Elite.
Ambient lethargy
“There’s no energy from the fans, but we motivate ourselves differently,” proclaimed Maxime Roos, the Metropolitans winger, at the end of the match. This meeting with the false air of scrimmage, the premises however started it as in training, reciting their systems, taking control of the match without madness, 20-12 after 10 minutes, 40-32 at halftime. Limoges, which at first seemed to evolve in a state of semi-torpor, and that all the anger of Jerry Boutsiele (14 points, 10 rebounds including 5 offensives) was not enough to wake up, ended up emerging from the ambient lethargy in the back from the changing rooms.
On an interception of Thimothé Crusol concluded by Philip Scrubb, the CSP even passed in front (56-57, 28th), and could then again consider a 4th victory in a row. But Brandon Brown slammed two strings in a row, the second at the buzzer of the 3rd quarter, to put the Mets back in the lead (60-59). And Jurij Zdovc’s players did not let go of the score afterwards, sealing the victory without the cheers of the non-existent crowd.
Tomer Ginat decisive
The Slovenian coach, who was back on his bench after being contaminated by Covid-19, almost congratulated himself on the surrounding calm. “It’s very strange, but we get along better, it’s easier to pass instructions, especially in defense,” he blurted out at a press conference, a smile hidden behind his mask. Zdovc, winner of the Euroleague 1993 … with Limoges, can also savor the ratio of assists – stray balls of his team (20-8) and the contribution of his entire team (Rob Gray at the start of the meeting, Maxime Roos at the end of the match), where Limoges is desperately looking for points from the bench.
The Metros, who had not played in an Elite Jeep since October 2 and a success against Cholet, also relied on an excellent Tomer Ginat (pictured), interior with a wide offensive range (23 points, 23 of evaluation) and author of the last 8 pionts of his team, to sign a 4th success in as many championship matches, and to take the lead, quietly. For a long time?
Click here for the statistics of the meeting.
