The feat is capital: Paris became the 5th French club to win one of the two main European Cups, after Limoges, winner of the Champions League (1993) and the Korac Cup (1982, 1983, 2000), Orthez (1984 Korac Cup), Nancy (2002 Korac Cup) and Monaco (2021 Eurocup). Thanks to this trophy, the Parisians will be able to join the upper echelon in Europe, the Euroleague, from next season and continue to grow.
Bourg-en-Bresse, supported by the Ekinox public, had nevertheless started the race in the lead. Masters of the game and efficient in long distance shooting (6/10 in the first quarter, no lost balls), the Bressans returned to the locker room in front of the score (46-43), but closely followed by opportunistic Parisians (20 rebounds, 10 /14 free throw).
Paris still undefeated for two and a half months
Paris did not miss the opportunity to turn the match around in its favor from the start of the third quarter, taking the lead in the 15th minute on a shot from Tyson Ward (52-53), followed by an unsportsmanlike foul from Bodian Massa offering two free throws (one converted) to the Parisians.
Five points from Nadir Hifi (14 points in total) later, Paris led by six lengths (52-58) after six minutes, without managing to take off completely (63-64 at the start of the last act). Same scenario in the last ten minutes, where Tuomas Iisalo’s players, still solid on the rebound, both defensively (24 in total) and offensively (14), quickly took the upper hand (69-76 5 minutes from the buzzer ). TJ Shorts finished as the game’s top scorer (22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists), and Paris remains undefeated since January 27.