In the Landes Basketball season, the month of January appeared like the foothills of an Everest potentially reachable in April, and the prospect of a Euroleague Final Six for which the Landes, 3es from group E, remain in the race. They still have a few cards in hand. To do this, they will need to win two of the three matches they have left of this second European phase, against Bourges this Wednesday, Brno the following week and Mersin on January 28. Otherwise, all would not be lost, as long as Salamanca, 5eskates at the same time, but you should still win at least once. Is Basket Landes at the beginning of January capable of it?
Difficult to say when coming to challenge Bourges again, against whom the Landaises literally fell on Saturday January 11 in the championship. A slap of 40 points (93-53) that we will have to evacuate before returning to the coal. And this while Basket Landes also remains on two losses in the Euroleague, in Brno (69-65) then against Mersin (73-53). “We are in a difficult moment. We knew that this block was going to be difficult and we did not approach it in the best way with Charleville (64-63 defeat at home in the championship on January 5, Editor's note). In Bourges, there was a shake-up, but above all a renunciation and that's the most difficult thing. We gave up mentally,” judge Julie Barennes.
“Refocus priorities”
How to remobilize? “By telling the players the truth: high-level sport is hard and too often, we underestimate it. That's what makes teams and players: there's no choice, you have to go. Afterwards, you either get there or you don't, but you have to at least want to do it, and at least try. That's the most important thing. Falling in Bourges, it's been five years since we won, but hey, this one is violent, because there was this renunciation. »
And it is paid in cash: Basket Landes has fallen to seventh place in the Women's League standings, and will have to fight hard to secure its place in the play-offs. Lucid, Julie Barennes advances, cash: “With the defeat in Brno, we will be dependent on others for qualification, whatever we do, even if we achieve an exploit. So we have to refocus priorities, and the priority is obviously the championship. » And to develop: “To be able to play on both tables (Women's League and Euroleague, Editor's note), you really have to be strong, very tough in your basketball, and it's true that the results (of the first phase, Editor's note) made us think we could do it. Certain exploits in the Euroleague have perhaps lulled us with illusions. »
-Relaunch ramp
The Landes coach admits: “We now find ourselves at a certain limit of what we can do, and I want to say that it is almost normal. The question is whether we can get past this milestone. Today, we find ourselves with Euroleague matches to play and there is no question of closing the door. We need to be aware of it and accept that if it's our limit, it's our limit and it doesn't matter. At least we know where we are and where we have to go, that's why I say we have to prioritize. And the priority, I repeat, is the championship. »
Far from spoiling it, this second match at Tango, Julie Barennes sees it rather as a ramp to relaunch, building on the foundations of the first leg victory, in Mitterrand, on December 11 (76-73) . “I know we can play Bourges. We have to be ready to play our game. We have just played three matches which put us in difficulty, and this type of match must help us to see if we are capable of bouncing back. One must have the ability to have mental stamina and accept things. » Give up some perhaps too. But not just anyhow.
