Great operation for Paris! Manhandled and behind at the start of the match, the players from the capital ended up reversing the situation to win (83-92), this Tuesday evening, on the floor of Alba Berlin during the 6th day of the ‘Euroleague. A success which allows Tiago Splitter‘s players to balance the score with 3 victories – after the reigning champion Panathinaikos and Monaco – for 3 losses. A good result for a club discovering the most prestigious continental basketball competition.
However, the start of the match quickly turned into a nightmare for the Parisians. Uninspired, they are content to position themselves behind the 3-point arc and chain long-distance shots. But success eluded them at the start of the game – despite open shots – and the failures multiplied (2 out of 14 after 10 minutes). The first to stop this bleeding is Yakuba Ouattara… who for his part took the opportunity to put an end to a black series of 17 missed shots behind the arc in the Euroleague this season.
Meanwhile, Alba Berlin showed itself to be more skillful, more present on rebounds and quickly widened the gap (20-8, 6th then 33-18, 12th). For 15 minutes, Paris seemed out of the game. But Tiago Splitter’s players, without panicking, returned to the north thanks to their Finn Mikael Jantunen (14 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in the end). From the height of his 2.03 m, the interior makes two 3-point baskets which allow Paris to pick up the score before returning to the locker room (42-37th, 20th).
The pause does not break the momentum of the TJ Shorts partners. On the contrary, they scored a 10-0 and took control of the match for the first time (44-47, 22nd). The duel is finally launched. The Parisians find their game, their madness, like Nadir Hifi who reminds us that he is a unique sniper whose 3-point shots with first intention destabilize and perforate all the defenses of France and Europe (55-60 , 30th).
The last act of the meeting is a terrible standoff, with hellish suspense. The two teams respond blow for blow. The ties are increasing. The match changed 3 minutes from the end on an interception and a 3-point shot from Nadir Hifi. Diabolique (25 points, his new Euroleague record, 7 out of… 19 at 3 points). While they had failed in money time during their first defeats in the competition, the partners of the explosive Tyson Ward (23 pts, 6 out of 12 at 3 points) show that they have learned their lesson well and do not crack.
The long-distance skill which penalized them at the start of the match turned into a lethal weapon (20 successful shots out of… 52 in the end). “I don’t know how many 3-point shots we took in the second half but when we start to make three or four, the confidence comes back, we feel better, that was the key to this match,” said Splitter.
Paris can savor. Before returning home and hosting Baskonia on Friday, the Euroleague rookie was full of confidence and showed that he fears no one.
