In the Paris Basketball trophy cabinet, the year 2024 will have a very special place. The club founded in 2018 has just won the first Eurocup in its history after lifting the Leaders Cup in February. After their victory (89-81) against Bourg-en-Bresse, the Parisians can exult, they who will enter a higher dimension next year by competing in the Euroleague.
The great mastery of the Parisians in match 1 left little hope as to the result of this return match in Ain. In the Ekinox, Paris Basketball emerged victorious from this 100% French confrontation and avenged its defeat on the same floor in the championship earlier in the season. Tuomas Iisalo’s men had more difficulty than in the first leg but were able to count on their sure values including an untenable TJ Shorts, author of 22 points.
Bourg in front until half-time
In the lead at the end of the first quarter, the Burgiens had to work to resist the big comeback from the Parisians. Thanks to an excellent TJ Shorts, impeccable on his free throws and a great domination on offensive rebounds (7 against 1), Paris Basketball was able to show great responsiveness, insufficient however to get in front of the locker room.
Trailing at the break (43-46), the Parisians sounded the revolt after the break with two three-point baskets from Herrera and Shorts which allowed them to get back in front of the score. Unbalanced, Nadir Hifi also scored an exceptional three-point basket to widen the gap before the Burgiens equalized at the very end of the third quarter. A free throw from Shorts will allow Paris to start the last 10 minutes of this match with a very small point lead.
Everything came down to the last quarter. The three three-point baskets in a row from Jantunen, Ward and again Jantunen really hurt the Bressan heads. In the stands, the Ekinox did not appreciate conceding nine points in a few minutes and faded away for a while. In the last four minutes, Paris knew how to manage its lead, even if the Burgiens never gave up like Axel Julien.
But a new long-range shot from Nadir Hifi at the best of times allowed Paris to maintain their cushion before two free throws from Jantunen. A dunk from the Finn will establish the domination of the Parisians to allow Paris Basketball to become the sixth French club to win a European competition.
