In 100% CSP today, we are interested in the match of the 24th day of the France Elite basketball championship this Friday evening (8 p.m.) in Cholet. A meeting for the moment maintained although there is a new case of covid in the Limougeaud workforce. The only good news for the moment is the return of coach Massimo Cancellieri. The Italian coach delighted to find his flock after having painfully lived the crazy match on Sunday, at home behind his computer screen.
In the end, I was running around my computer!
“It was very hard! Already because this match was different from all the others. Living it on the bench is totally different than living it at home. And see the mistakes, with two extensions… At the end, I was running around my computer! I didn’t know if I should watch or not. But I was super happy. If they want, I can stay home for all games. If they win like this, that’s fine with me” Massimo Cancellieri joked Thursday at the Jean Le Bail room in a pre-match press conference.
Another player tested positive for covid this week
On the other hand, Massimo Cancellieri does not hide his sadness at having missed the incredible atmosphere of last Sunday at Beaublanc. A coach obviously now focused on this Friday’s match in Cholet. But if the Italian technician is back, the four positive players last week (Lang, Paumier, NDoye and Jakovics) did not yet have the medical green light on Thursday to resume competition. And a fifth player has tested positive this week. One more case by Friday noon and the CSP could obtain the postponement of the match at the Meilleraie.
It’s not physically obvious but we have no choice
But for now, it is maintained. “They want to play (the LNB) at all costs. We have already played teams where it was the same thing so we can’t complain but I find it a bit limiting sometimes for the integrity of the players” valued Hugo Invernizzi who played almost 40 minutes last Sunday. “The rule is the same for everyone. It’s not obvious physically but we have no choice. You’ll have to be careful not to blow yourself up. The most complicated thing is not having the same players from one match to another. We will have to adapt again, give our best, play smart and be solid all game.“concluded post 4 Limougeaud.
Cholet is one of the teams in form on the 2nd part of the season
In front of a Cholet team in full possession of its resources and reinvigorated by the arrival of TJ Campbell in the lead at the end of December, coach Massimo Cancellieri does not want to repeat the mistakes of the first leg. “Don’t let them play their basketball. They are a good defensive team. They really press the ball, they try to intercept. And they always take advantage of their defense to create on offense. You have to be very smart to attack them. Regardless of how we play, we gotta be mature“he warns, well aware that his opponent remains on a good series of 7 wins in 10 games.