The first LNB playoff match in the history of Paris Basketball did not go as planned. The capital club lost for the first time at their Adidas Arena and – to everyone’s surprise – trailed in the series. Two days after seeing his coach be elected Best Coach of the Season and T.J. Shorts MVP from Betclic Elite, it’s quite a cold shower.
Tuomas Iisalo’s team was in trouble from the start and saw its first points scored in the 4th minute of play by Tyson Ward. Conversely, Laurent Vila’s men were in good shape from the first quarter, with a well-distributed score and an aggressive Tidjane Salaun in the circle (3-12, 5th).
The Parisians were able to rely on their bench to give themselves some breathing room, notably with two three-point baskets from Bandja Sy. A better quality game which encouraged Tuomas Iisalo to put his entire five major back on the floor at the end of the first quarter, but this one – released very quickly a few minutes earlier – still does not succeed. With Emmanuel Nzekwesi and others, Cholet responded to the physical challenge and positioned himself in front (14-23, 10th).
Cholet starts the match strong! 😮💨@CB_officiel x @LNBofficiel#SKWEEKLive #BetclicELITE #SKWEEK #alwaysON pic.twitter.com/5NZZ3csrHb
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) May 15, 2024
With physique and success, Cholet keeps control
Should the awakening of Paris come through that of TJ Shorts? From the start of the second quarter, the pocket leader got the basket with the foul, finally opening his counter. Sebastian Herrera also found himself on the free-throw line several times. Despite these easy points, Cholet remains in the game and with energy like the lightning counter-attack concluded by Neal Sako (27-31, 15th). Decidedly more incisive, Cholet’s ball movement benefited Gérald Ayayi who entered the racket shortly before the break (41-46, 19th). Few skills (10/29) and a lot of fouls committed (unsportsmanlike by Michael Kessens, 16th), causing a false rhythm and errors which did not allow the capital club to get ahead at mid-point. time (41-46, 20th).
Returning from the locker room, the Parisians took their defensive pressure up a notch but Cholet found – as always this evening – the solution. The Parisian coach launched the joker Enzo Shahrvin. A success with 4 points and density under the circle from the moment it enters. But the Cholet address continued again and again. On the one hand with Vojtech Hruban (51-62, 26th), to make the break and beat – at the same time – his season points record (19 points). Same feat two minutes later from his teammate Kim Tillie (16 points), very skillful behind the arc since returning from the locker room (55-66, 29th).
The Sebastian Herrera show insufficient, Tidjane Salaun incredible
In a match until then dominated by Cholet, Paris found its basketball better as the third quarter progressed. And he couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to the second quarter to ignite an Adidas Arena that was just waiting for it! Thanks to Chilean gunner Sebastian Herrera, Paris undertook a great comeback (69-71, 32nd).
Enough to discourage the Cholet visitors, not at all… Nathan De Sousa or Tidjane Salaun, whoever the authors, the three-point baskets continued to rain in (69-77, 34th). A long-distance mano a mano which continued until Tyson Ward’s miracle basket (79-82, 37th). A new – and final – chapter then opened in the match: one where good defenses win matches. A game which succeeded for the Choletais, multiplying the stops and controlling their offensive phases with composure like the mid-distance basket of TJ Campbell (79-87, 38th) – until then rather discreet – synonymous with a great victory.
TJ CAMPBELL IT’S TOO MUCH 😮💨@CB_officiel x @LNBofficiel#SKWEEKLive #BetclicELITE #SKWEEK #alwaysON pic.twitter.com/3uQ5XrUx6b
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) May 15, 2024
Cholet thus wins the first leg of its series against Paris and leaves confidently home to prepare for its return this Saturday, May 18 at 8 p.m. As for Parisians, they will have no room for error in the Mauges.
Boxscore Paris – Cholet / Calendrier Playoffs Betclic Elite
At the Adidas Arena, Paris.
2024-05-15 20:50:10
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