This Saturday evening in Leyrit (8 pm), Cavigal Basket hosts Roche Vendée for the final day of the regular season. The stakes are simple: the winner will host the Final Four for promotion to the Women’s League on the weekend of May 9-10.
If there’s one match not to lose, it’s this one. Leading at the start of the final day, the Niss’Angels have the opportunity to make a significant statement. Rachid Méziane’s protégés are 40 minutes (or more if it goes into overtime) away from achieving their first objective of the season, which is hosting the Final Four.
To put it simply, the regular season leader organizes a tournament in the form of semifinals and finals. Only the winner moves up to the elite of French basketball. Three seasons after leaving the Women’s League, the team from Nice is eager to make a comeback and compete among the top teams.
“This isn’t the most important match of the season because there will be the Final Four games. It’s a high-stakes match, one not to lose. We really want to host the tournament for promotion in mid-May,” admits Rachid Méziane, coach of Cavigal Basket.
Undefeated at home this season, Cavigal’s players would like to maintain that record this Saturday, which would mean first place and thus hosting the Final Four.
But beware, a heavyweight from the Women’s League 2 is coming to the Côte d’Azur. Roche Vendée Basket’s team from Vendée also wants their final tournament at home. This Nice-Roche Vendée duo has remained inseparable since the first part of the season. The Vendée team is coming off five consecutive wins, including a significant one against Dunkerque, who are third in the standings.
“We want revenge after losing the first match (69-55). It’s motivating to remain undefeated at home and to play the Final Four here, where we would have more familiarity. That matters in these major events,” explains Marie-Eve Paget, point guard and captain of the Nice team.
Did you say intense? You won’t be disappointed in a Leyrit hall that is expected to be much fuller than usual. Both Nice and Roche Vendée will have just one word on their minds: “victory.” And by 9:40 pm, we’ll know whether it’s Nice or Roche-sur-Yon that will host the Final Four.
