Paris (AFP)

After a championship put on hold and then ended at a forced march, despite the protests of the players, the French basketball championship is about to live its epilogue: the final phase begins on Sunday, with several clubs deprived of some of their internationals.

These play-offs almost did not see the light of day, the Players Union (SNB) having launched a strike notice on June 12, contesting the rates imposed to make up for the delay between the end of October and the beginning of March in due to the health crisis.

The conciliation with the National Basketball League finally made it possible to maintain the play-offs.

The format is much lighter than in 2019 when the semi-finals and final were played in the best of five games and had crowned Asvel.

The 2020 season, interrupted by the Covid, has been declared white.

In 2021, all the teams will decide in a dry match, first on the field of the best ranked in the quarter-finals, then in a "Final 4", in Rouen, Thursday for the semi-finals, and Saturday for the title.

First at the end of the regular phase, Dijon opens the ball on Sunday against Orléans, 8th at the end of the championship.

The JDA hopes to win its first title of champion of France, but does not start favorite despite its ranking against the two ogres, Villeurbanne and Monaco.

Since the end of its Euroleague season in early April, Asvel has won 18 of its 20 league matches (against 9 of its first 14), in addition to the Coupe de France obtained against Dijon (77-61).

- Absences -

Tony Parker's club, 2nd in the regular season, plays his place for the semi-finals against Le Mans (7th) on Monday, the same day as the matches between Monaco (4th) and Bourg-en-Bresse (5th) as well as 'between Strasbourg (3rd) and Boulogne-Levallois (6th).

Losing speed at the end of the championship with six defeats in eight matches, Monaco retains the status of challenger to Asvel, with its experience in the chopping matches acquired in the Eurocup (C2 behind the Euroleague), that the "Roca Team "won in April.

Surprises are not excluded at the end of this long season, so long that it encroaches on the niche of the national selections: the clubs must release since June 15 their internationals who are preparing the Olympic qualifying tournaments or the Games.

The French internationals from Asvel (Thomas Heurtel, Moustapha Fall, Guerschon Yabusele) or Monaco (Mathias Lessort), summoned from June 22, will therefore not be on the trip to Normandy if their club qualifies.

On the contrary, Dijon will keep all of its players.

© 2021 AFP