Tarbes-Lourdes receives Mulhouse this evening (8 p.m.) at the Adour quay.
So the Union Tarbes-Lourdes, thanks to its victory at Loon-Plage, knows that it will play the 1st round of the play-off which is a quarter-final. The first objective set at the start of the season is achieved. The second is to continue as far as possible. Hence the importance of the two to come, against Mulhouse this evening then in Andrézieux to face Saint-Chamond-Andrézieux Bouthéon (SCABB) this Friday, May 9. A 7th or 8th place would see it confront the haven or Quimper, even Challans, which have long teeth.
Anyway, the U’boys have every interest in considering this match as capital. First to keep the Alsatians behind them in the ranking, in addition to filling a deficit Goal-Everage, since they had lost to Mulhouse 92-89, after prolongation. Then to show the future opponents of the play-offs, whatever they are, that it is not easy to win at the Quai de l’Adour. Finally to maintain a positive dynamic after two victories that followed a more difficult period.
Against Orchies and then in Loon-Plage the players of Stéphane Dao found a face more in line with their reality and this despite the “Guigne” who fell on them with the injuries of Marius Chambre, of Augustinas Venckus and now that of Fabien Ateba whose knee fell in the North on Friday. We do not yet know the seriousness of evil but it seems that the captain of the Union will be absent for a moment.
Fortunately, Augustinas Venckus jaw has consolidated. Will he be able to play tonight? It is possible. Fortunately, Sidy N’Dir, the medical joker who replaces Marius Chambre, had a little more time to integrate into the group, and his 18 points scored in Loon-Plage are very encouraging.
Will this be enough for the union to continue its march forward? We do not forget that the U’boys also have revenge to take on the lost first leg of so little. We have seen that Mike Joseph can constitute a weight locomotive, that Tom Wiscart Goetz and Mo Queta can take the reins of the team. And we hope that Tidiane Badiane will find her going to lend a good help to her teammates.
Because opposite, they will find who to talk to, Captain Kilian incredulous in mind, who knows the Tarbaise room well. The Mulhousians overthrew the Bretons de Quimper (60-54) on the last day. It is a reference. Franck Kuhn’s players also have the play-offs in mind and they are very close to confirming their participation in the final phase.
This promises tension on the Tarbais prosecution and the show, as all these supporters who come to encourage their favorite team like. The meeting is made.
