Paris will play in their first Super Cup final

The Île-de-France derby for the capital! Paris will contest the first Super Cup final in its history after a masterfully controlled semi-final against Nanterre 92 (95–88).

The season is off to a flying start! No feeling-out period, no let-up. The game kicks off at breakneck speed with lightning-fast fast breaks thwarted by equally aggressive defences. Whilst TJ Warren scores our first points of the season with a clinical drive to the basket, Nanterre responds immediately with two long-range shots in quick succession. There’s plenty of good intent, but both teams hit a bit of a lull until Tyson pulled off a completely mad and-one from the corner. From Nadir’s massive step-back jumper to the alley-oop finished off by Allan’s dunk, Paris Basketball showcased all its creativity with the ball in hand. And on top of that, our Parisians were ruthless from the free-throw line. Although less flamboyant, the Greens held onto the lead throughout the first quarter (17–19). Intensity and big plays continued to set the pace of the game. Except this time, our side shifted up a gear. Terry ignited the Parisian rocket before TJ sent it soaring for good with a shot from the car park… on one leg! A lead our opponents clawed back by drawing fouls. There were few moments when more than one possession separated Paris and Nanterre, as neither team gave an inch. As half-time approached, Jared’s lightning-fast transitions forced Julien Mahé to call a time-out. Hugo Yimga-Moukouri and his teammates fought back, but it wasn’t enough to halt our strong run (50–48).

Our pace isn’t slowing down! The battle for rebounds is still raging as the pressure on the ball-carrier remains suffocating. Nanterre are, in fact, forced to fire from long range as they can’t find any open spaces. Even when Paris Basketball have to switch defences, very little space is given to the opposition. It’s a struggle to penetrate the paint that only the Nanterre players are facing! Our Parisians are effectively extending their lead whilst the Greens fail to score a single point from open play for several minutes. Paris is snatching the rebounds, Paris is punishing them from distance, Paris is causing pain. And with a 3-pointer from a flat angle by Terry, Maxime Lefèvre’s men cross the +10 mark. A moment of brilliance highlighted by the Prince of Paris’s cross-step combined with a step-back shot with one minute remaining in the third quarter. The lead is secured (72–61)! Nanterre try to mount a comeback, but whilst their accuracy is waning, our players keep up this blistering pace. Whether on the break or near the basket, Jared and co. always find a way to score. Not to mention the times when Momo was tearing the backboards at Roland-Garros to shreds. However, with just a stone’s throw to go before crunch time, our opponents launched a final attempt at a comeback. Just as the Black Ship was in danger of listing, Tyson secured another and-one from behind the arc. The knockout blow that sent Paris through to the final (95–88)!

Nos Parisiens n’ont cessé de monter en puissance au cours de la rencontre. Initialement secoué, le Paris Basketball s’est servi Our Parisian side kept building momentum throughout the match. After a shaky start, Paris Basketball capitalised on a spectacular third quarter to comfortably seal a superbly executed half.

In just a few days’ time, Paris Basketball will return to the adidas arena in style. It’s a EuroLeague clash against Partizan, and you can book your tickets right now by clicking here. 

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Paris Basketball 🏀 (@parisbasketball)