The days following celebrations are often difficult, and NVB experienced this heavily on Friday evening. Having just qualified for the Final Four of the French Cup, the blue and yellow team needed to refocus on the championship. Not an easy task, especially considering the favorable draw (they will face Montpellier in the semi-finals) which keeps the door to the final open. Saint-Quentin took full advantage at the Palmeira hall. The visitors played a game full of determination and capitalized on the mistakes of the home team. Nice was already thinking ahead to Lyon, and their lack of focus cost them dearly. No matter, survival in the league can wait a few weeks.
The emotion of the French Cup
There was little disappointment among the people of Nice. The desire to shine at the Final Four on April 1st and 2nd is already on everyone’s mind. For coach Léonard Baric, his men lost “mentally, and that’s normal, the emotion stayed with the French Cup.” He adds, “the championship is not over, but we’re already preparing for Montpellier.” For him, the important thing “is mainly to stop the injuries for the rest of the season.”
