End of the year in apotheosis for Limoges CSP. After their victory in Monaco and their narrow success against Fos-sur-Mer, the players of Massimo Cancellieri won this Monday evening on the floor of ASVEL. If the Villeurbanne team was very diminished in the absence of four major players positive for the Covid, the Limougeauds had to fight until the end to win 85 to 83.
The meeting: victory with forceps against an opponent decimated by the Covid
In the ranks of ASVEL, four major players were missing because of Covid. The club also requested the postponement of the match, to no avail. It was therefore with 7 professionals that Lyon-Villeurbanne faced Limoges. The CSP who got off to a better start against an opponent disorganized and without a pivot to the point of taking a 13 point lead. But the team coached Monday night by Freddy Fauthoux then put all its energy to come back and pass in front just before the break. Upon returning from the locker room, the Limougeauds worn by Harper and Massinburg were serious to avoid disappointment. We still had to fight until the last second to win. Like the precious rebounds captured on both sides of the field by an Assane Ndoye then repositioned in 5 in place of a Grismay Paumier who played injured. A success 85 to 83, the 3rd in a row in the league, which allows the Cancellieri gang to go on vacation with the feeling of duty accomplished.
The player in form: Demonte Harper asserts himself more and more
Still excellent Monday night, Demonte Harper played his hand on the floor of ASVEL and finished MVP of the meeting with 25 points at 10 of 17 shooting including 4 of 8 at 3 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 26 evaluation in 29 minutes. “A fucking good playmaker“the coach will say of him just after the meeting. Note also the excellent performances of CJ Massinburg (20 points, 5 assists, 25 evaluation) and a Hugo Invernizzi (14 points, 9 rebounds, 21 evaluation) author of a long shot capital to put the CSP in front in the last moments of the match.
The day without: Gerry Blakes far from the mark
It’s simple. The back US, nonexistent in defense, also missed almost everything in attack to finish at 5 points to 2 of 10 shooting and minus 1 evaluation in 15 minutes. In his defense, he was not to play Monday night. Faced with the absences in the opposite camp, the coach changed his mind at the last moment. In front of the press, Cancellieri has also cleared his player and said it was his fault.
Statements:
Hugo Invernizzi, inside the Limoges CSP:“Considering the context, we saw that they did not give up. That they have very good players. They were perhaps diminished but we did not pay attention to that. We came to win the match. by being also diminished. It does not matter much. We managed to put two or three shots at the end and to better contain their fast play by losing less ball at the end of the match. Often, the close matches and a little crazy like that, it’s a little bit of luck too. Everyone contributed. Ludo came home and did a very good job. Assane took some big bounces at the end. Demonte was huge in the 3rd quarter time. It’s a team victory. “
Massimo Cancellieri, Limoges CSP coach : “We like to play this kind of team. Today it was all about energy, enthusiasm and playing together. Step by step Demonte is showing that he has excellent playmaker attitudes. Nobody thinks he’s a point guard but he’s a fucking point guard. And Massinburg is a great finisher. They did the job. Beyhurst was excellent. Because he comes off the bench being in a difficult situation and he gave his best. And he played better than players who play 25 minutes.“
Crawford Palmer, Limoges CSP sporting director : “We can only be satisfied with the work of the coach and the players after a start to the season disrupted by injuries. We see that there is a soul. Technically and tactically, we manage to find solutions. We all know that it is through the results that we judge a team. We show that we can compete with very good teams even if we still have periods of instability like in Orléans. The season is going to be long. Our staff and our players really need to cut because we are there every day. I am proud of the team and the staff. The work is done but we must continue.“
Aside: Crawford Palmer confirms his departure
As announced by our colleagues from the Popular Center, Crawford Palmer will leave the club at the end of the season. By “mutual agreement” according to the sports director of the club. Development to come on France Bleu Limousin.