The seventh day of Betclic Elite delivered its share of surprises this Saturday.
Bourg-en-Bresse lost for the third time this season in its home arena on Saturday, beaten by Strasbourg (96-89) during the 7th day of the Elite basketball championship where Saint-Quentin won a very poorly started match in Nanterre (102-95).
The JL has some difficulties on its Ekinox floor since its three losses at this stage have all been recorded at home, preventing the men of French coach Frédéric Fauthoux (3rd) from putting pressure on the two leading teams, the Asvel and Cholet who face each other on Sunday. Already defeated in the Eurocup three days ago by Aris Salonique, Bourg-en-Bresse marks a new setback against Strasbourg who have a third success in a row, the first on the road.
The Alsatians, with four players at 10 points or more including leader Dominic Artis (21), Edon Maxhuni (19 pts, nine assists) and Vitalis Chikoko (15 pts, 11 rebounds), managed in a long undecided meeting to widen the gap in the final minutes, leading by 10 points. Xavier Castaneda (19 points) tried to keep his team afloat, in vain.
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Saint-Quentin for its part overthrew a Nanterre team that had long been dominant but which collapsed in overtime at home. Paul Lacombe’s teammates had made a small difference at the end of the first period, and still led by 10 points entering the last quarter, thanks in particular to the great performance of the American Desi Rodriguez (30 pts , 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 39 rating).
But the SQBB reduced the locals’ lead, helped by Jerome Robinson (28 pts) and Enzo Goudou-Sinha (23 pts), but also by an excellent end to the match from leader Nolan Traoré, great French hope, who snatched the equalizer (86-86) meant overtime and recorded a score of 20 points (7/7 free throws, 4 rebounds, 3 assists). Saint-Quentin revived after a defeat at Asvel and pocketed its fifth victory of the season when Nanterre lost for the fifth time.
Finally Le Mans shifts to the positive (four victories, three defeats), very quiet against Dijon (98-71) with the contribution of David DiLeo (27 pts). Sunday, the day will continue with the clubs involved in the Euroleague, Paris, Monaco and Asvel. In addition to the top-of-the-table clash between Lyon-Villeurbanne and Cholet (4:30 p.m.), the Roca Team will travel to Gravelines-Dunkirk (4:30 p.m.) before Paris hosts Nancy (7:00 p.m.).
