BASKETBALL (Champions League): Dijon takes a first step towards qualifying by winning against the Greeks of Peristeri
With a reduced squad due to multiple injuries (Loum (calf), Rousselle (foot) and Simon (groin)), the JDA players managed to win their first victory in 2023. Nenad Markovic’s men were able to count on the infernal duo Holston / McDuffie to take a first step towards qualification in BCL by overcoming a catchy Peristeri team, coached by the legend Vassilis Spanoulis (best scorer in the history of the Euroleague)
The start of the game is balanced with two teams exploiting their opponent’s weaknesses. On the Greek side, the game is mainly concentrated in the interior sector. Indeed, the Croatian pivot Miro Bilan (18pts 7reb 1pas) puts the Burgundian defense in pain with his interior movements and his stature.
The former ASVEL player is perfectly supplemented by the long-distance address of his teammate Marcus Denmon (21pts 2reb). The JDA players on their side degraded an address to 3pts in these first minutes. The locals therefore settle on sharp penetrations in the racket to ensure scoring.
The Dijon interior sector will begin to gradually increase in power during the meeting. This is illustrated by the start of the smashing second quarter of the pivot Gavin Ware who chained the rebounds as well as the points in the key to give a 6-point lead to his teammates.
However, the American interior is hampered by foul problems and this forces Nenad Markovic to let him breathe on the bench. The release of the latter allows visitors to turn the tide of the game. The Athenians chain the baskets as well as the defensive stops under the impulse of the connection leader (Francisco) / pivot (Bilan). It is therefore the Greeks who consume the advantage at the end of the first 20 minutes (34-40).
When they return from the locker room, the Dijonnais are therefore determined to reverse the trend in order to be able to return to the game. The locals reduce the ranks in defense by increasing the pressure in the perimeter which allows them to scrape balls by causing loss of balls. However, the pressure put on by the players from the city of the Dukes is starting to increase the intensity and tension on the pitch.
The Palais des Sports is on the verge of conflagration with a decibel level that only increases over the minutes. This electric context benefits the locals who are surfing on the ambient euphoria to gradually return to the game. Successive baskets from Holston (15pts 12pas 4reb) and McDuffie (27pts 7reb) fueled a blaze that literally exploded when Robin Ducoté allowed his side to pass 12 minutes from time (58-57). However, the players of the legend Spanoulis are eye-catching and will once again manage to get back into the game. The visitors make a huge start to the fourth quarter by relying on the scoring qualities of their winger Agravanis (22pts 5eb) as well as the malice of Denmon to get shots. Finally, it is indeed the Greeks who take control of the meeting 6 minutes from time.
However, you must know the song, the team of coach Markovic can count on the individual talent of its executives to make the difference in hot moments. The saviors on the Burgundian side are therefore called Markis McDuffie who chained the big shots in the money time as well as Gregor Hrovat (18pts 3reb 8pas) who returned an extremely important long distance shot, 2min from the end, Coupled with a 2/2 on the line free throws in the final moments.
It is therefore the Dijonnais who win the first round of this Play-In. The JDA players were able to count on the individual talent of their executives to overcome a playful and eye-catching Greek team. However, Nenad Markovic will have to rack his brains during the coming week in order to find solutions to contain the opposing interior sector which literally walked on the Dijon defense during the entire meeting.
ML
JDA Dijon wins against Peristeri 89 to 80 (17-16, 17-24, 30-20, 25-20)
JDA Dijon : Holston (15) / Brembly (4) / McDuffie (27) / Ducoté (4) / Horvath (15) / Ware (15) / Alingue (6)
Peristeri : Denmon (21) / Francisco (9) / Bilan (18) / Agravanis (22) / Kaselakis (2) / Radanov (2) / Juiston (6)
Passes:
– JDA Dijon: Holston (12) / Hrovat (8) / Ducote (1)
– Peristeri: Francisco (8) / Kaselakis (5) / Moraitis (2)
Bounces:
– JDA Dijon: McDuffie (7) / Brembly (4) / McDuffie (5)
– Peristeri: Balance sheet (7) / Agravanis (5) / Francisco (5)