Dijon won their first leg of the Champions League play-in against the Greeks of Peristeri while Limoges lost to the Germans of Ludwigsburg.
Three French clubs participated in the group stage of the Champions League, and after six games, only Strasbourg qualified for the Top 16 (four groups of four, the first two joining the quarters). To hope to do the same, Dijon and Limoges must go through a play-in, which is played in two winning matches. Two days after the New Year, the JDA and the CSP were on deck, facing Peristeri and Ludwigsburg respectively. And it went better for the Dijonnais, fourth in Betclic Elite, who won 89-80 against the third in the Greek championship, after a close match. While Peristeri (where French international Sylvain Francisco plays, author of 9pts, 8pds and 8rbds) was trailing 17-16 at the end of the first quarter, he took control just before halftime, reached on the score from 34-40. Dijon found themselves trailing by eight points (36-44) in the 21st, before starting their comeback. In eight minutes, the JDA passed (58-57), thanks to a successful 30-20 in the third quarter. But the Greeks did not give up and equalized (71-71) then regained the advantage 6’26 from the end (73-74). However, Dijon did not panic and perfectly managed the money-time and was able to win the victory, in the wake of a Markis McDuffie who finished with 27 points and 7 rebounds. The second leg will take place next Tuesday in the suburbs of Athens. If they win, Dijon will join Strasbourg and Hapoel Jerusalem in Group I. Otherwise, they will have to play a support match on the 18th in Burgundy.
Dijon markers: Brembly (4), Holston (15), Hrovat (18), McDuffie (27), Ware (15), Alingue (6), Ducoté (4)
Limoges did not go far
For its part, Limoges, seventh in Betclic Elite, lost 85-81 to fifth in the German championship, Ludwigsburg, after a match where it had its ups and downs. The Limougeauds missed their start to the match (12-4) but managed to equalize at the end of the first quarter (14-14). They then suffered in the second, conceding a 16-5 in the last seven minutes before halftime (42-32). In the thirdthe CSP has long kept ten points behind, before accelerating to sign an 11-0 straddling the last two quarters and take the lead (61-62). But Ludwigsburg responded with a 9-0 to regain an eight-point lead 1’45 from the end (81-73) and finally won by four points. The Limougeauds of Javontae Hawkins (17pts, 5rbds) will therefore be able to harbor regrets. Victory will be mandatory next week at Beaublanc, on pain of saying goodbye to Europe.
Limoges markers: Graves (13), Hawkins (17), Jones (12), Lang (11), Rodriguez (12), Schilling (8), Wojciechowski (7), Mare (1).