Basketball – Champions League: JDA Dijon
“Mandatory victory”, a good old cliché of sports vocabulary. Except this time it’s true. The JDA Dijon has no choice: if it wants to continue its journey in Europe this season, it must win on Wednesday January 18, 2023, on its floor, against the Greek team of Peristeri. At first leg
the JDA won (89-80), before losing in the return match in Greece (92-88, after extra time). With the advantage of the field for this third decisive match, Jeanne can believe in her chances of reaching the “Top 16” – the next round in this Champions League. The details of the stakes with the coach, Nenad Markovic, and the strong winger, Abdoulaye Loum.
Loading
The flavor of great evenings
In a basketball season, there are ultimately few games cut. It’s the luxury of the Champions League, when you have to play play-offs, the Coupe de France, and the play-offs. Strong winger Abdoulaye Loum, now familiar with European games, is already relishing : “We play basketball for these kinds of matches, it pushes us, we are prepared for that, we work all year for that, we will be ready”. Good news: the Jeanne has clutch players, decisive in hot moments, like Holston or McDuffie.
On the side of the coach, Nenad Markovic, we try to temper. “I really try not to over-stress the players to suggest the importance of the match, they already know that. They all want to continue playing in the European Cup”, he says. He wants to put his experience as a former player at the service of his collective. “When I was a player, I loved games with a lot of stress, those for great players, who have mentality, details Nenad Markovic. As a player, I never knew how to play the “small” matches, but I was often there in the big meetings. I try to give all my confidence to the players.”.
Another close match?
The first two games of the series were extremely disputed and undecided, the second even ended after extra time. Should we expect a new very tight poster? “I can’t predict if it will be a close game or not, replies Nenad Markovic, on the other hand, I expect a very physical match. Peristeri players have gained confidence in their last matches. Newly they played very hard, I almost expect a street fight, very rough, very physical. We have to be ready for that”.
“They have more point guards to put pressure on the ball. They’re good on offensive rebounds, they have energy to put pressure all over the court, and throughout the game, develop the coach of the Jeanne. We will try to make several plans, and see if it works. We have our weapons, we have a good structure and a good chemistry in the team. I hope we will fight and we will win!”
Without Rousselle, the management of David Holston
The JDA will once again have to do without its leader, Jonathan Rousselle, back in training but not yet fit. Nenad Markovic must therefore redouble his ingenuity to make the best use of David Holston (who will turn 37 at the end of January), incumbent.
“The problem is that when David is tired, and Jonathan is not there, we do not have a pure leaderdetails the coach. Evann Gauthier (19) is still too young to take on much responsibility, although we’ll probably have to use him, because David can’t play 40 minutes – and we play against Nanterre three days later. David is also human, sometimes it doesn’t seem like it, but he is human, he also needs rest and time to recover”.
Abdoulaye Loum is coming back from injury and should enter the rotation on Wednesday evening. “It’s complicated, I arrive at a different pace, since I haven’t played for a monthhe regrets. There was a drop in confidence too, without playing, but I’m working to get back in shape. I’m a little cooler, but off-pace. When you don’t play for a month, you can’t go straight back to 100%.
- JDA Dijon – Peristeri, match to follow in full on Wednesday January 18 from 8 p.m. on France Bleu Bourgogne, live from the Palais des sports, with Adrien Beria and Gilles Viard. Special pre-match broadcast to get you in the mood from 7 p.m. on France Bleu Bourgogne!