By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
In the odd scenery of “Palais des congrès”, a music hall of 3.500 seats and not a gym, there was an odd result on Thursday night. Limoges of Greek coach Panagiotis Giannakis beat 78-76 Elan Chalon, reigning French champion which prepares for a tough Euroleague season.
Even in these stage of the season, Chalon was considered the automatic favorite against the champion of French second division (PRO B), but didn’t have its roster at full strength. Notably absent was injured former NBAer Shelden Williams, the biggest transfer in the club’s history, and also 21 years old talented power forward Joffrey Lauvergne, who is also hurt.
All that opened the stage for game ΜVP Jean-Michel Mipoka who had 17 points and 6 rebounds. Brad Wanamaker was the top scorer for the winners (23 p.). The leader of Chalon, Blake Schilb had a monster game with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Limoges, the only French team with a Euroleague title, started the season with a smile, but as he uses, Giannakis didn’t want to celebrate much: “My players deserved the trophy, but we still have a long way to go”.