Earplugs recommended! Rarely has the Adidas Arena roared and vibrated as much as this Thursday evening. A deafening, incessant din, orchestrated by the thousands of Parisian supporters and the incandescent fans of Partizan Belgrade who came to the City of Lights to encourage their players against Paris Basketball during the 8th day of the Euroleague. A duel at the top which kept all its promises and ended with the great victory – the 4th in a row -, at the end of the suspense, for the Parisians (74-71) during the 8th day of the Euroleague.
“It’s a very good surprise,” smiles winger Yakuba Ouattara. Honestly, I thought we were going to struggle more than that at the start of the season, but in the end, knowing the team, the mentality of the guys, it’s not that surprising. Everyone is in the right mentality, giving their all, wanting to prove. It’s an opportunity for everyone to show what we’re worth at the highest level. »
Officially leaving 700 people from Serbia, they found themselves – as in the Cid – many more when they arrived safely. According to the authorities, there were at least 2,500 of them in an almost packed Parisian venue with – officially – 7,542 spectators. Among the evening guests of Paris Basketball Luka Karabatic, left to rest by the coach Guillaume Gille for the gathering of the French handball team, the rapper Josman or Althéa Laurin, taekwondo gold medalist at the Paris Games, n ‘didn’t miss anything of the show.
All afternoon, cohorts of supporters, in their hundreds, had crisscrossed the northern districts of Paris and the 18th arrondissement. Stopping at bars on their way to the Adidas Arena. A real human tidal wave. An hour before the start of the match, there were still many waiting on the square in front of the hall. Supervised by police officers whose vehicles were parked nearby.
Among the supporters Vlad – “like Putin”, he laughs – who traveled from Germany. But “out of the question” for the fifty-something to miss this meeting. “I never miss a match when I can come by car with other supporters,” he explains in English while his friend Gorjan promises “a victory of more than 15 points” for his team.
“We’re going to make noise as if there were 10,000 of us”
“Rumors say there will be 5,000 but I don’t know,” confides Denis, 30, from La Courneuve, wearing the traditional black jersey. But it doesn’t matter, we’re going to make noise as if there were 10,000 of us.” He explains that Partizan “is a religion”, that they “love French players” since the passage of Mathias Lessort and that this is still the case with Frank Ntilikina, the Olympic vice-champion who is discovering the world apart from Partizan this season.
“My father was a big fan,” he continues. I became one naturally. Even though I live in France now I try to go see them play when my work allows me. There is a group of supporters in Paris but people come from all over France and Germany. In Paris, there is a big community. Personally, I’ve been waiting for this moment for two months. It’s going to be a party. »
In the room, it doesn’t take long to see them waving their flags… and hear them singing. Women, men of all ages – even children were present – all wore the black jersey, a sign of rallying and belonging to the Partizan family. The Grobari – the name given to Partizan supporters – are a reference, admired or feared by opponents. Which explains the presence of numerous security guards posted in front of their stands. But, this time, they will not have been able to crack their smoke bombs. Instead, they just smoked… cigarettes quietly before the game.
A new coup for the Tiago Splitter gang
Each basket scored by Partizan players inexorably caused a rise in decibels. Between the songs of the Kop Parisii – moved to the other side of the hall, opposite their usual stand and who held their evening visitors in high spirits – and the Serbs, the arena at Porte de la Chapelle was became a huge swarm.
A high-intensity fight between supporters in the stands like the magnificent duel on the floor. The match indeed kept all its promises. After getting the best start (19-10, 7th then 30-21, 15th), TJ Shorts’ partners saw their lead diminish as the minutes passed and were only two lengths by the time they returned to the locker room (37 -35, 20th).
Reference of coaching in Europe, Zeljko Obradovic managed to find the faults in the very particular game of the Parisians – surprising Euroleague rookie with 4 successes after 7 days – and Partizan took the lead in the 3rd quarter 46-51, 26th). The end of the match was breathtaking, indecisive, full of twists and turns (60-59, 35th). Each possession was a struggle until Lundberg’s missed shot in the last second (74-71). Partizan was disillusioned, Paris was exultant.
“The atmosphere was great,” relishes Yakuba Ouattara. We feel their presence (the Serbian fans) but the Paris supporters were up to the task, they knew how to push us. It’s also a discovery for them, they have probably never experienced this in Paris in the past. But it was cool and they have nothing to be ashamed of. »
Between sparks and tinnitus, Tiago Splitter’s players achieved a new burst of brilliance. The 5th success – the 4th in a row – in 8 Euroleague days. “The atmosphere was really great,” said the coach at a press conference. As a team, we just want to be better than the day before. But tonight (THURSDAY)it was a difficult, close match, against a great squad and a great coach. »
Despite their status as beginners, the Parisians are positioning themselves more than ever as contenders for the playoffs of the prestigious competition. This deserved a beautiful final communion among their supporters.
