Even without spectators, the floors of Jeep Elite (men's D1) will resonate again, with an increasing rhythm, from the first weekend of March.
After four months of slow-motion competition, so decided the general assembly of the LNB (National Basketball League), meeting this Monday, after a vote without discussion (95%), and at the request of clubs.
More than 200 meetings (216 exactly) are concerned.
From the start of next month, there will therefore be at least four matches per team, then six in April, for some clubs up to eleven in May and finally six in the first half of June.
At the current stage of the competition, the matches played so far range from 8 (Boulazac, the red lantern) to 13 (Boulogne-Levallois, 4th).
If conditions allow, a Final 8 tournament will be played over a weekend after June 15, on the Leaders Cup formula, namely quarterfinals, semi-finals and a final played on a dry heat and on a single site, which will not be one of the eight qualified.
The winner will hold the national title.
Places in European Cups will be allocated according to the classification at the end of the regular season.
"We have reached a point where we had to play"
"We arrived at a point where we had to play, the stoppage of the season would have caused a financial loss twice as great for the Elite", summarized Philippe Ausseur, the president of the National Directorate of advice and control of gestion (DNCCG), the financial policeman of professional French men's basketball clubs.
The clubs concerned, which had already expressed their willingness to play until the current international break a month ago, pushed in favor of this formula.
Several of them could also be deprived of certain players, selected with their national selections for the Olympic qualifying tournament which will begin on June 29.
To date, eleven foreign players playing in France are potentially concerned.
The France team is already qualified, with a clash against the United States from the start.
In Pro B, the championship will also start again but there will be no playoffs.
The first two of the regular season will ride in Elite Jeep and the last two will be relegated to National 1. If the season does not come to an end, the classification at the time of the end of the competition will be final.
For amateurs and female pros, however, nothing has been done for the moment.