Started Friday evening with the stunning victory (81-74) of Dijon over Asvel, the favorite for the title, the first day of Jeep Elite continued this Saturday with the demonstration of Boulogne-Levallois in front of Gravelines (89-57) and the victory of Nanterre at Limoges (76-85).
THE NUMBER: 34
As the maximum gap in favor of the Metropolitans during their duel against Gravelines (74-40, 3rd).
Unlike its public, Boulogne-Levallois does not advance masked at the start of the season.
Three days after its performance on the Rock of Monaco (62-72) in the advanced match of the 2 nd day, the troops of Jurij Zdvoc indeed crushed a weak team of Gravelines.
If the opponent of the evening was of a lesser caliber than that encountered on Wednesday, the Metropolitans however did not do in the feeling.
Led by Vitalis Chikoko in MVP mode, they quickly took control of the match to never let go (21-6, 8th).
A real show of force and a message sent to all the competition.
And to think that the match could have been postponed due to two positive cases of Covid in the ranks of the Mets: the assistant Sacha Giffa and the young interior Neal Sacko.
Vitalis Chikoko was one of the architects of the victory of Boulogne-Levallois
LP / Hervé Bellenger / Icon Sport
THE PLAYER: Vitalis Chikoko
As in the last campaign - aborted because of the health crisis - the Boulogne-Levallois pivot is a serious candidate for the title of best Jeep Elite player this season.
This Saturday, the Zimbabwe international marched on his direct opponents from Gravelines and was one of the main architects of his victory.
The 28-year-old pivot ends the game with 27 points (11 of 14 on shots), 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 24 minutes.
A harvest that could well be repeated this season for the player who extended until 2024. “He was unstoppable,” relishes his Slovenian coach.
LA PERF: stunning Nanterre
In the end, it did not take long before seeing Nanterre unlock its counter.
Pessimistic Wednesday night after the defeat against Bourg-en-Bresse (82-95), Pascal Donnadieu has already found a smile.
Although led and abused at the start of the match (12-2, 3rd), his players gradually grabbed their backlog to finally win at Limoges.
If the leader Chris Warren finished top scorer (24 points), this success also bears the mark of Isaiah Cordinier.
Frustrated with Wednesday's loss, the winger finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists.
And Nanterre 92 validates its first success of the season in #JeepELITE!
#WeAreJSF pic.twitter.com/ogfj9QiKFE
- Nanterre 92 (@ Nanterre92) September 26, 2020
THE POLÉMIC: The mayor of Cholet threatens to cancel a match
Will the meeting between Cholet and Chalon on Tuesday be the first postponed this season?
Annoyed by the decision of the League (LNB) to refuse a player from Cholet - Lasan Kromah - to play this Saturday in Orleans due to a positive test for Covid-19, Gilles Bourdouleix, mayor of Cholet, has indeed threatened to take a municipal decree prohibiting the holding of the match next Tuesday at the Meilleraie.
The player tested positive at the start of the week and then negative a few days later.
“Either the player involved is definitely considered positive, despite the negative test, and there is a real risk of contamination and clustering.
Either it is negative and can play in Orleans and then the match can take place, ”said the councilor in his press release.
To be continued
1 @CB_officiel player, tested positive, is now negative.
@LNBofficiel prevents him from playing tonight in Orléans.
I decided to take 1 order banning Tuesday's game at #Cholet.
Either it is positive, we are facing 1 cluster;
either it is negative and this refusal is absurd!
pic.twitter.com/vrnsUdSNO7
- Gilles BOURDOULEIX (@GBOURDOULEIX) September 26, 2020
THE INDEX CARDS
BOULOGNE-LEVALLOIS - GRAVELINES: 89-57
Quarter times: 27-9, 19-24;
25-7, 18-17
Arbitrators: MM.
Collin, Vansteene and Ceccarelli.
Spectators: 1000
Boulogne-Levallois:
Michineau (5 pts), Pinault (10), A. Brown (13), Chikoko (27), Ginat (12), then B. Brown (5), Konaté, Roos (3), Gray () , Marei (3).
Entr.
:
Zdvoc.
LIMOGES - NANTERRE: 76-85
Quarter times: 21-21, 15-22;
19-23, 21-19
Nanterre:
Cordinier (16 pts), Berhanemeskel (2), Kaba (13), Buycks, Stone (11), then Bouquet (1), February (13), Conklin (5), Warren (24).
Entr.
:
Donnadieu.