If some Limoges supporters only look at the CSP, then they may have been a little hallucinating when they saw the player that Mouhammadou Jaiteh had become… In November 2018, the international pivot found himself third pivot in the CSP (behind Samardo Samuels and Jerry Boutsiele) and ended up being cut by the CSP, a rarity for a French player, for a check for 50,000 euros. When we see what Jaiteh has become, namely EuroCup MVP and referenced player in the EuroLeague, there is reason to say that this money could have been better spent.
Returning to Beaublanc for the first time since this episode (he had a hamstring injury last season), Mam' Jaiteh proved his worth to the Limouge public… and incidentally to Vassilis Spanoulis, who had not had much opportunity to see him since his arrival, the fault of a painful knee. 48 hours after a timid outing in Madrid, the former Virtus Bologna pivot displayed superb profitability in Limoges, accumulating 14 points at 6/7, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 2 interceptions for 24 ratings in 16 minutes.
Since Jordan Loyd also had a great night (22 points in 25 minutes), the Roca Team did not experience too many difficulties in Beaublanc, except for a revolt initiated by Alexandre Chassang in the third quarter (58 -60, 27th minute). Valorous, Nicolas Lang's teammates (22 points at 7/12 and 6 assists) saw that there was a world of difference with a big EuroLeague team. Defeated 84-96, they practically said goodbye to their last Leaders Cup ambitions.
Another failure for La Rochelle…
In the 8th minute, when Ryan Hawkins scored a winning shot which gave Rochelais a 16-length lead (7-23), the mood was not really in the Christmas spirit in the heart of Antares… In this doldrums , the MSB, which hoped to build on its surprise victory against Paris, had a real merit: not giving time for doubt to take hold. So Guillaume Vizade's men set about quickly closing their gap, getting back in front (29-28, 15th minute) and even widening the gap. Thus, at half-time, Le Mans was already at +10 (42-32).
Enough to knock out the Charentais who quickly understood that they had missed their chance, never being able to return after the locker room. Victorious 81-71 with seven players between 8 and 14 points, the Sarthois signed a great operation in the race for the Leaders Cup by coming back to level with Strasbourg (7v-6d). On Sunday, if Gravelines-Dunkerque loses at Chalon-sur-Saône, a Top 8 will really emerge two days from the end of the first leg…
