This Sunday, the Clasico finds its most beautiful setting: a packed Sports Palace, more than 7,000 fans on fire (and 70 Limoges fans), which had not been possible since May 2019 and the 84 to 69 victory over Pau in the 105th episode of the biggest rivalry in French basketball. This time, the confrontation also has a stake in the classification between Élan firmly anchored in the top 4 – 16 wins for 9 losses – and a CSP in the fight for the top 6 (15 wins, 11 losses). Add to this a special evening for the historic “Presi”, Pierre Seillantwho did so much to make the Clasico into legend, and you get a date that promises to be electric.
This time Jefferson is here
On the floor, the Momentum has revenge to take, the Green and White beaten by 10 points in the first leg (85-75), and led 56 wins to 53 (and 1 draw) in Clasico history. Since this first leg, played at the end of February, the confidence of the Béarnais has skyrocketedthanks to a series of seven consecutive victories in all competitions… and the memory that the last team to have beaten the Elan was Limoges, precisely.
Unlike last time, Eric Bartecheky can count on Brandon Jefferson, everything except one detail. The Texan is the best scorer in the championship, more than 18 points on average per game, and comes out of two capital performances against Le Mans and Strasbourg. Elan could also have a size and power advantage in the racquet with Vitalis Chikoko and Hamady Ndiaye. The pivots are better and better served by their partners and the team has been able to vary its game a lot more recently, anything but a coincidence with the improvement observed and the current series of invincibility.