Our Parisian side return to winning ways in the EuroLeague

The performance in Roanne was no one-off! On Sunday, Joël dropped 26 points against the ÉLITE 2 champions. Just 48 hours later, he’s hitting those same high standards – this time on one of Europe’s biggest stages. Our point guard has truly taken charge. Jared got things moving with his signature mid-range game, before the “Ayayi show” took over the Coca-Cola Arena. Benefiting from excellent off-ball movement by our big men, the French international brought the ball up, sliced ​​through the heart of the Emirati defense, and finished through contact. When he wasn’t driving, he was pulling up from deep. With 7 points already on the board in just a handful of possessions, he set the tone for Paris’s strong start. In fact, our backcourt was firing on all cylinders: along with Jared and Joël, “Captain Seba” chipped in with points, as did Nadir – making his return to the court after several weeks on the sidelines. Dubai, meanwhile, caught us off guard with rapid ball advancement, coast-to-coast plays, and long, vertical passes designed to exploit transition opportunities. However, this fast-paced style eventually gave way to more conventional half-court sets, centered around their cornerstone, Mfiondu Kabengele. Despite trailing on the scoreboard, our squad closed the gap to just a single possession thanks to a stellar run at the end of the first quarter (23–25). As soon as the teams returned from a timeout, the action intensified in the paint, and free throws – previously nowhere to be found – finally began to appear. Beyond their offensive prowess, Maxime Lefèvre’s side showcased another key strength during the second part of the half: their full-court defense. Suffocating in the backcourt, the teammates – led by an omnipresent Terry – made life a living hell for the opposing ball-handlers. A flurry of interceptions, blocks, and defensive stops suddenly descended upon the “City of Gold.” While our speedsters capitalized on every turnover, the home side simply couldn’t find an answer. 10-2, 17-3… Xavi Pascual’s instructions proved futile against our defensive discipline. It wasn’t until the sixth minute of the second quarter that our opponents finally scored their first points from open play!