Basket – Poitiers at the test of Caen
The PB86 is playing its quarter-final first leg of the play-offs this evening in Caen, anything but a gift given the ascending form of the Normans.
An all over ball in the center. At the time of the reunion between the PB and the CBC, everyone can boast of having marked their territory in the second phase of the interminable National 1 championship. Poitiers needed an extension to dominate Ona Embo and co (86-82) in mid-March. On the return, Caen relied on a great Moïse Diamé (22pts, 10rbds, 38 evaluation) to win by seven units (74-67), after having counted twenty. Who will take the advantage tonight, in the quarter-final first leg of the play-offs? “We know this team well now, there will be a lot of things to control to win”, prophesies Andy Thornton-Jones. And the Poitevin coach to list the “big list” CBC, its pair of impact leaders (Ona Embo-Romain), its sharp rears and wingers (Bracy-Davis, Pope), its very dense interior sector (Igbanu, Diamé, Saumont, Wiscart-Goetz, Noël). The absence of Florian Thibedore, on the other hand, is good news for Mendy and his teammates.
Nevertheless, the formation of Fabrice Courcier has found colors for a few weeks – four victories out of the last six games -, after having experienced difficulties in high pool. In 1/8and final, Lyon still pushed it to its limits by winning match 1 in the Rhône (81-77), before however exploding in Calvados (96-72, 97-63). For its part, the PB86 has not won a single away match since… Lyon and will have to face the warm atmosphere of the Palais des sports. Because the formula of the play-offs remains particular and a first misstep outside condemned the loser to win twice at home in forty-eight hours. Anything but a gift. Andy Thornton-Jones can count on all his troops.
1/4 final first leg of the play-offs, Caen Basket Calvados (9and) against Poitiers Basket 86 (2and), Friday May 6, 8 p.m. at the Palais des sports in Caen. Arbitration of MM. Sissoko and Charruyer.
The other quarter-finals
Mulhouse (8and)-Le Havre (3and), Cergy-Pontoise (12and)-Lorient (4and), Rueil (6and)-La Rochelle (5and).
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