Lhe challenge was daunting for Sylvain Delorme’s men. After four defeats in a row, we had to raise our heads, and quickly. But, facing a Caen BC on fire, which had just scored a fourth success, what’s more with a big name (Pau, 76-85), and in a boiling hot Palais des Sports Caen-la-Mer, as at its Usually, the RMB advanced into hostile terrain.
The Rouennais, however, did not let themselves be lulled by the heavy rhythm imposed at the start by the CBC. Without panicking, they remained in contact until Mambo finally gave them the advantage (15-17, 7th). Behind, Nadolny and his teammates took advantage of the lack of aggressiveness of the Calvadosiens on long-distance shots. The RMB leader, on fire, did the job to widen a first gap with two consecutive three points (20-26, 8th). In the second quarter, it was again him who put the RMB back in cover (33-35), while Wendell Davis had just allowed the locals to get back in front.
The Seinomarins had found the weak point of the CBC this Friday evening, and upon returning from the locker room they did not hesitate to press on this very open wound. Hammond, Golitin… The RMB continued to post more than 50% three-point success and dampened the atmosphere in the Palace. The gap rose to 20 points in favor of the visitors (46-66). The “Vol’Caen” therefore had to erupt again at the start of the last quarter (56-69, 30th), and the tension rose a notch. Like a Mambo punished with a technical foul after a collision with Koné (29th).
The RMB keeps its cool
Jostled, Rouen remained united, he absorbed the mistakes, did the work behind the free throw line, and could count on a CBC as inconsistent as ever, to keep his small lead (65-81, 35th) and move towards a convincing victory (73-90). After Antibes (73-79), the Rouennais are only the second team to succeed in winning against the CBC at the Palais des sports Caen-la-Mer this season. And the first to slap them like that! “We must congratulate Rouen, this evening, she fully deserves her victory”bowed Stéphane Eberlin, the CBC coach, afterwards.
Three weeks after its last victory, at another promoted team, on October 18 in Chartres (75-93), Rouen Métropole Basket ended a series of four defeats. What’s better than a derby to whet your appetite? We will now have to keep it wide open, to treat ourselves next Friday, as a solid dish, to a Nantes team which has just signed its second success of the season and without doubt also erase some doubts.
In Caen, Rouen MB beats Caen 90 to 73 (52-39)
(20-28 ; 19-24 ; 17-17 ; 17-21)
CAEN BC: Rojewski 2, Koné 6, Facey 12, Hannequin 4, Davis Jr 19, then Coulibaly 10, Pontens, Davis 12, Siegwarth 4, Bernaoui, Norelia 4, Njiba.
Coach : Stéphane Eberlin.
ROUEN MB: Ngoy 4 points, Hammond 15, Gourari, Malka 10, Choua 10, puis Nadolny 19, Golitin 13, Ndjock 6, Kayouloud 5, Mambo 5, Wibaut 3, Auguet.
Coach : Sylvain Delorme.
Karim Gourari, captain of Rouen MB: “We played a full match for 40 minutes. We are satisfied because until now we had difficulty achieving this full match. We did not collapse in our weak times. This is what we wanted from the start, we are obviously satisfied to win, especially with the style. We had a great challenge ahead of us, with this CBC who was full of confidence. We must continue to work and maintain our humility. »
Sylvain Delorme, coach of Rouen MB: “We are happy, there was a great atmosphere. It’s fantastic here, as soon as there is an opportunity the public gets behind it. It’s not easy and so I’m happy with the way the match looked. I don’t know if we could have the pretension of thwarting the CBC, we just concentrated on playing a full match. We had some nice open shots and there was great teamwork, generally speaking. »
