Goodbye Mickey, hello Saint-Chamond.
After two years of absence, the Leaders Cup is back, relocated from Disneyland to the Arena Saint-Étienne Métropole where the eight best teams of the Basketball Elite will compete, from Friday to Sunday, for the first trophy of the season. .
There is reason to doubt, as the National Basketball League (LNB) affirms with self-derision in its advertising campaign willingly borrowing clichés from deep America (country music, cowboy hat, electric guitar), that it is “
the basketball event that Americans envy us
”.
Even with the presence, among the participants (the first eight clubs in the ranking at the end of the first leg), of Victor Wembanyama's Metropolitans 92, who is panicking the NBA before joining it next season, he, the immense favorite of the next draft.
"
It's a lot of matches in a very short time, it's possible that it plays in our favor
", estimated the new star of French basketball at a press conference, about a competition he will play for the first time.
Read alsoBasketball: "I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying at ASVEL", says Parker, despite the future sale of his shares
On the other hand, the return of the former "Semaine des As" after two years of absence due to the Covid pandemic (2021) then financial difficulties in organizing it (2022) is a positive signal sent by French basketball. .
For Sasa Obradovic, coach of Monaco, leader of Elite, "
some teams can already succeed in their season by winning
" this trophy.
“
For us (not winning) would be a big disappointment and winning would be normal.
That's how we have to deal with it
,” he explained.
The Leaders Cup has left Disneyland Paris, which has housed it since 2013, to return to the regions with the brand new Arena Saint-Étienne Métropole in Saint-Chamond (Loire).
For this edition and that of next year as an option.
“
We will have to take stock.
If there are changes to be made, it will be up to the elected officials of the League to decide,
”explains Fabrice Jouhaud, director general of the LNB, to AFP.
Asvel, a new start?
In the meantime, the enclosure where the Saint-Chamond club (14th in Pro B) plays year-round will be sold out (4,200 places) from Friday to Sunday to crown the successor of Dijon, whose best player David Holston is still uncertain, on the list of winners of this first title of the season.
Asvel will have this ambition: the reigning triple French champion probably intends to make competition, almost at home, the starting point for a happier end to the season than the first part (19 wins for 25 losses, championship and Euroleague combined).
"
As the next few weeks approach, it's important to gain confidence
," assures captain Charles Kahudi.
“
Starting a streak would be nice.
We have seen in the past that when you win the Leaders Cup you always have a positive (dynamic) momentum behind it
”.
The Villeurbannais will have to put in their mouths a hearty entry, opposed in the quarter-finals on Friday to Boulogne-Levallois from Wembanyama, whom they had in their ranks last season, and the coach of the Blues Vincent Collet, second in the championship.
The coach of the Mets, weakened by injuries with only six professionals in the workforce, “
still makes it a goal.
It's a competition that also allows learning for a team that is young.
»
The leader, Monaco, is the big favourite, he who intends to become master again in France (vice-champion of France in 2018, 2019 and 2022) while satisfying his dreams of Final Four in the Euroleague.
Sasa Obradovic's team will be opposed in the quarter-finals to Bourg-en-Bresse, who beat them on Sunday on the wire (90-88).
The Leaders Cup program
:
Friday (Quarter-finals)
(1 p.m.) Dijon - Limoges
(3.30 p.m.) Monaco - Bourg-en-Bresse
(6.30 p.m.) Cholet - Le Mans
(9 p.m.) Boulogne-Levallois - Asvel
Saturday (Semi-finals)
(6.30 p.m.) Dijon or Limoges - Monaco or Bourg-en-Bresse
(9 p.m.) Cholet or Le Mans - Boulogne-Levallois or Asvel
Sunday
(6:30 p.m.) Final