By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A best-of-three series between JL Bourg and fellow Betclic Elite participant Paris to decide the next BKT EuroCup champion.
Progressing to the Finals on Wednesday, La Jeu blew out Besiktas Emlakjet, 89-63, in Game 3 of the best-of-three semifinal series.
Behind the support of a great crowd in Ekinox, Minsk native Maksim Salash logged a game-high 19 points with 6/9 field goals. “It was a very tough series. A third game, do-or-die for us and them. They played with a lot of energy the whole series. Homecourt advantage, it was great,” he recapped.
Axel Julien went for 11 points. Isiaha Mike and Kevin Kokila chipped in ten points each. Despite dealing with an ankle injury most of the way, Jeremy Morgan lasted 17 minutes recording eight points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. NBA draft prospect Zaccharie Risacher tallied eight points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
“We had a very good performance. The players were fantastic. I am very proud of this group,” said winning head coach Frederic Fauthoux.
Bodian Massa and Angel Delgado were both charged with disqualifying fouls late in the first half. The exchange between the bigs leading to ejections favored Bourg considering the Dominican big leads the league in offensive rebounds and often carries his side in key contests.
Matt Mitchell was ruled out of Game 3 due to injury. With foul trouble spreading across the lineup of Dusan Alimpijevic, Jonah Mathews picked up a fifth foul adding to the misery. The Serbian head coach also suffered an early exit after a second technical foul with 4:05 left in the fourth quarter.
Derek Needham had a team-high 18 points in Bourg-en-Bresse.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net