Betclic Elite: Elan Béarnais dominates Monaco and keeps hope in the semi-finals

The Elan Béarnais still believes in it. Eric Bartecheky’s men’s players beat Monaco (82-76) on Tuesday night in the semi-finals of the French championship, bringing the series to 2-1. Thanks to two award-winning baskets from Brandon Jefferson in the last two minutes, Pau-Lacq-Orthez secured the victory and offered the right to play a match 4 on Thursday evening against the Roca Team, still at home in its Palais des sports in Pau. , in a semi-final which is played as the best of five matches.

Led 18 to 1 by Monaco in the matches of the championship of France since the return of the team of the Principality in ProA in 2015, the Palois finally won a first match of play-offs against the new big displacement of Elite (Monaco has the 2nd budget just behind Asvel). They had been corrected by Monaco during the first two legs of the semi-final in the Gaston-Médecin room (94-65 and 79-72), but were able to raise their level of play at home, pushed by their 7,000 spectators.

The two pocket leaders (1.73m each), Brandon Jefferson and Justin Bibbins carried Elan Béarnais in this game 3, the first with 14 points on the clock, including six crucial in the “money time” and the second with 16 points and seven assists, as a conductor. “We just wanted to fight in front of our fans after losing twice in Monaco. We are at home, in front of this public, we know that they will come back and fight, but we try to play on our points“, commented Justin Bibbins at the microphone of beIN Sports, after the meeting.

Mike James (21 points) and Dwayne Bacon (18 points) found themselves a bit alone on the Monegasque side, while the Pau collective shone with five players at 10 points and more, the prize going to Slovenian Gregor Hrovat (19 pts) .

(With AFP)