Enough to put ideas back in place, if necessary. This Saturday evening in a very well-stocked Ginette-Mazel room, the leaders of Nationale 3 Ruthenois fell heavily against the 5th of Nationale 2, Toulouse OAC, 67-83, in the semi-final of the Occitanie Cup. And if the Aveyronnais have never given up, they have never offered themselves the luxury of being able to hope either.
From the outset, the athletic deficit, in size, but also in speed was glaring. The big guys from Toulouse lay down the law, notably Captain Seguela. This was still expected. But what was less so was that Matija Sagadin’s band had a real delay in starting. Like a round of observation, of fear rather, during which the legs were too heavy, and the arms too, in view of the numerous failures in front of the circle.
Too shy departure
As a symbol, the game started with an interception of the visitors, those who will therefore go to the regional final on December 14, also depriving the Ruthenois, in the race to climb, of the bonus point granted by an epic in this cup, a once donated at the national level. And Valentin Gelin and Co may have started with a seven-unit lead, given the level of difference, the Toulouse residents only took five minutes to go in front (!), the first time at 13-14, then take control and a comfortable lead, around 20 points.
Less skillful than usual in finishing in attack, the Rouergats also suffered the law of the untenable leader Bruzac, just as twirling as he was precious at long distance, launching his team perfectly with 11 units in the first quarter, before less play. Because if Rodez did return to -11 after the first three and only points of the evening from Capi Gelin when there were less than 4 minutes of play remaining (62-73), it is because the Haut-Garonnais staff had largely proceeded to turnover. Before avoiding a suspenseful ending with the strong return of its terribly effective executives.
Rodez therefore paid to see. Nothing serious. But it’s a safe bet that the return to normal, from Saturday in Tresses, the penultimate, should allow us to regain our confidence.
