Limoges CSP finally wins on its floor against Paris
After a game with twists and turns and in front of a fiery audience, the CSP won its first game of the season with a river score, 107 to 100.
The Bénédictins station has just been elected the most beautiful station in France, but the referees of the match this Saturday, October 8 will not extend their stay in town to visit it: very severe with Limoges, they left the sports hall under the boos of a public a bit reassembled.
The meeting started well for the CSP, however, against a Parisian team which shared the same title in the French championship: three defeats in three games. Jayvon Graves increased the pressure with a spectacular dunk, Nicolas Lang regained all his skill, the defense is solid and contains always dangerous attacks. Carried by an inspired Darrin Govens, the CSP turns largely in the lead after 10 minutes, 29 to 17.
The gap widened further in the second quarter and Limoges was up to 18 points ahead. But little by little, the Parisians pull themselves together, with an untenable Kyle Allman in attack. For their part, the referees do not forgive the locals, until a tangent unsportsmanlike foul whistled at the CSP: it provokes the anger of Beaublanc who expresses his disagreement at high volume and in a colorful way. Limoges is only 7 points ahead at the break, 53 to 46.
Back on the floor, the situation remains complicated for the CSP who accumulates faults, transforming his side of the scoreboard into a Christmas tree. The pivots found themselves nailed to their bench. Paris thus returned to a tie 71-71 and Limoges finally finished the third quarter time with only 2 small points ahead 73 -71, thanks to Darrin Govens who saved face in extremis.
The CSP remobilized in the last quarter and reassured their public, with in particular a Desi Rodriguez always involved who went so far as to mop up the sweat of his colleagues on the floor himself. We see good counterattacks, good attacks, and if Limoges does not kill the match and is still whistled with a technical foul, the outcome of the game is logical, a 107 to 100 victory. Limoges has taken a lot, but Limoges has won, with the added bonus of winning back the public.
In a press conference, captain Nicolas Lang hails a “mental” victory and coach Massimo Cancellieri becomes a poet: “We need the love of the city to give it love back. It’s mutual.” He probably hopes that it will not be a one-night romance, and that the idyll will not turn into fado this Tuesday in the Champions League against Lisbon.