A few weeks after winning its first title at the Leaders Cup, Paris Basketball will experience the first European final in its history! The capital club, born in 2018, defeated another neophyte at this level, London, in two sets in the semi-final.
Despite a mixed first half at the Copperbox Arena (45-39), Tuomas Iisalo’s team left the Lions in their cage after returning from the locker room during match 2 (85-93). Always as exceptional, TJ Shorts once again led the Parisian collective (23 assists for 13 lost balls) to victory by compiling 21 points on 6/12 shots, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 8 caused fouls and 5 interceptions for 24 rating in 27 minutes.
NADIR HIFIIIIIIII 😮💨@ParisBasketball x @EuroCup#SKWEEKLive pic.twitter.com/qaBh7Vomrj
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) March 29, 2024
Paris is only the 13th club from the French championship – and the first from the capital – to qualify for a European Cup final. It is also the third French representative to reach the Eurocup final after Strasbourg in 2016 and Monaco, winner in 2021. There will perhaps be a fourth in a few days, Bourg-en-Bresse, pushed into a match support by Besiktas.
A one-sided second half
This Friday, Paris Basketball did not go it alone like during the majority of the European season – only one defeat in the regular season against Besiktas. After a balanced first quarter (19-21), the teammates of former Manceau Matt Morgan, 13 of his 25 points in the first half, passed the second and made Tuomas Iisalo’s men doubt. Despite losing 14 balls, London took the lead at the break thanks to its energy (24 rebounds to 12) and its skill (61% at 2-points and 6/14 behind the arc).
PARIS IS IN ITS MATCH ‼️@ParisBasketball x @EuroCup#SKWEEKLive pic.twitter.com/BhbGhtikgh
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) March 29, 2024
The rhythm was reversed in the second half when Tyson Ward, author of a masterful poster, provided renewed energy. Six minutes after the break, the Parisians were back in control (56-58, 26th). They were no longer going to look in the rearview mirror (64-73, 34th). The Londoners’ final close ended short when Nadir Hifi (13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) took responsibility in the moneytime. Even without a maddening skill (9/30 at 3-points), the Parisians panicked the counters with 54 points scored in the second half!
MAIS TYSON WARD ????? 😳@ParisBasketball x @EuroCup#SKWEEKLive pic.twitter.com/CkAbHaTtVZ
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) March 29, 2024
The only downside: Mikael Jantunen suffered a shoulder shock in the last minute. It remains to be determined the seriousness of the Finn’s potential injury.
Bourg or Besiktas in the final
Assured of home field advantage thanks to its regular season performance, Paris Basketball is now waiting to know its opponent in the final – matches 1 and 2 of which will take place on Tuesday 9 at the Adidas Arena and Friday 12 away . It will be either Bourg or Besiktas. Response late Wednesday evening to Ekinox.
Eurocup: Beaten by Besiktas, Bourg will play its place in the final in a match 3
After its first leg victory, JL Bourg went through hell in front of the 16,000 Istanbul spectators at the Sinan Erdem Dome during match 2 of the Eurocup semi-final (81-72). Besiktas equalizes at 1-1 and forces a good one at Ekinox, this Wednesday April 3.
2024-03-29 21:40:34
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