At the opening of the Leaders Cup, this Friday in Saint-Chamond, Dijon, defending champion, largely won against Limoges (83-65). The JDA, qualified for the semi-finals, will face the winner of the match between Monaco and Bourg-en-Bresse.
The adventure continues in the Leaders Cup for the defending champion. Dijon, winner of the last edition, already three years ago in 2020 (the competition had not taken place in 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, nor in 2022, for economic reasons), on the floor of the Disney Events Arena, climbed to the semi-finals on Friday after his big victory (83-65) against Limoges on the floor of Saint-Chamond in the opening match of the former Tournoi des As then Week of Aces. The JDA, which can therefore still hope to retain its title obtained three years ago, was able to take advantage of a room almost entirely committed to its cause to easily tame the CSP.
However, it was the Limougeauds, led in particular by team captain Nicolas Lang (15 points, 5 rebounds), who had made the best start. Unfortunately for the 10th in the Betclic Elite ranking, it did not last very long, and Dijon, led on its side by the inevitable David Holston (13 points, 4 assists) and by his Slovenian winger Gregor Hrovat, author of 12 points in⦠two minutes, quickly took control.
πΏ ALLEY-OOP TIME π€#LeadersCup @ThatMcDuffieKid x @jdadijonbasket pic.twitter.com/jGQMbiBjZJ
β LNB (@LNBofficiel) February 17, 2023
Unleashed Hrovat!
π« Direction the last four for the defending champion!
The @jdadijonbasket opened this 9th edition of the #LeadersCup with a win against @limogescsp β pic.twitter.com/bt15amjqlC
β LNB (@LNBofficiel) February 17, 2023
The Burgundians have not let them go, well helped it is true by the incredible number of balls lost by their opponents (24). To make matters worse, Limoges coach Massimo Cancellieri saw red after his American winger Javontae Hawkins suffered an offensive foul. Result: the CSP coach suffered two technical faults in just a few seconds and, excluded, was invited to return to the locker room by the referees.
It was therefore from a distance that he witnessed the aftermath of the ordeal of his team, already largely behind at the break (48-34) and who further increased their lead afterwards, in the wake of this same Hrovat (23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals), logically elected man of this first match of the weekend and at the origin of the most beautiful action of the meeting, with this devastating alley-oop concluded by Markis McDuffie. The JDA will face Monaco or Bourg-en-Bresse for a place in the final.