We do not yet know his identity. But for sure, there will be, in a week at most, a sixth French club to win a European Basketball Cup. After Orthez, Limoges, Nancy, Nanterre and Monaco, Paris Basketball and Bourg-en-Bresse are candidates for their succession. The two clubs are in the final of the Eurocup, the Europa League for basketball players, in a historic 100% French confrontation.
This final is played as the best of three matches. In other words, you have to win two to lift the trophy. A performance that only Monaco has achieved in 2021. The first round between Paris Basketball and Bourg takes place this Tuesday (8:30 p.m.) in a sold-out Adidas Arena in Paris (8,000 spectators) before a rematch in Ain on April 12 and a possible good one in the event of a tie on Monday April 15 in the capital.
THE FINAL WITH CLOSED WINDOWS đšđ
You will be 8000 people tomorrow evening to support Paris against Bourg for the first match of these European finals đłđ
Thank you Paris đ€â€ïžđ pic.twitter.com/YTFVDiaxBU
â Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) April 8, 2024
On the right, in the red corner, presents the young and very ambitious Paris Basketball. Built from scratch in 2018, it climbs the ladder at stratospheric speed. Under the leadership of Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo, unknown before settling down on the banks of the Seine, the Parisian club has had an almost exemplary season: only 8 defeats for 52 matches played in all competitions. Undefeated since the end of January, playing two matches per week, he remains on an impressive streak of 17 consecutive victories. Since the start of the adventure, Paris has played 21 Eurocup matches and has only lost one. With home advantage, he is the favorite for this final. âWe are considered the favorites,â admits winger Gauthier Denis. But we focus on ourselves and what we have to do, without putting more pressure on ourselves. »
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Bourg indeed has the means to thwart this prediction. The proof: the only confrontation of the season so far between the two clubs turned to the advantage of Bressans. It was in the championship, on December 16, and Frédéric Fauthoux's team, which has just extended its contract until 2027, won 83-81. One of the rare Parisian defeats this season. Bourg is above all a nugget: Zaccharie Risacher. Stéphane's son, silver medalist with the Blues at the Olympics in 2000, is announced in the Top 3 of the next NBA draft, sometimes even number 1 to succeed Victor Wembanyama. It can change a final which has another major stake. Its winner will have a ticket to play directly in the Euroleague next season. This will be the start of a colossal adventure. Paris Basketball has been a dream since the day it was born⊠six years ago.