Can the Bourges basketball players repeat their feat from the return match against Mersin. The Berruyères can win, this Wednesday, their ticket for the final four of the Euroleague on the occasion of a third decisive match against the Turkish players.
Saved by a huge performance in the return match against Mersin, the Bourges basketball players won a great victory in Turkey, where a victory on Wednesday (5:00 p.m.) would give them a ticket to the Euroleague Final Four. Dominated in all areas of the game in the first leg (84-56), the Berruyères delivered a benchmark match to overcome the Turkish armada and its players who passed through the WNBA in their Prado room last Friday (76-75 ).
A victory of a small point which gives them the right to dream of a Final Four which has fled French clubs in the queen of European competitions since the 2013-2014 season and a qualification of… Bourges for the last four. Tango has made it an assumed objective since the start of the season, and even wishes to organize the continental meeting in Bourges. “We have to impose an impact and a physical challenge to take this match and continue our adventure,” says coach Olivier Lafargue.
“Stay in the Game”
“We know there is going to be an even crazier atmosphere than in Game 1, we want to focus on what we can do, stay in the game as long as possible so that the pressure of the result falls on their shoulders. “, he added Tuesday during a press briefing. To achieve this, it will be necessary, as at the Prado, to contain the three American stars of the Turkish formation: Tiffany Hayes, Elizabeth Williams and Chelsea Gray, Olympic champion in Tokyo. The trio scored 54 of Mersin’s 75 points in the second leg, without really being able to rely on the long-distance home shooters, Laura Cornelius (11 points on the way) and Aleksandra Crvendakic (15 pts), well cut off from the rest of the team at the Prado.
“In match 2, we didn’t leave any shots too open for their ‘shooters’ so the big stars had to do everything themselves”, underlines Lafargue again. The Tangos have also managed to combine this defensive impermeability with beautiful offensive inspirations, carried by the fireworks Yvonne Anderson (13 pts) or Alix Duchet (16 pts), and an unprecedented address this season behind the arc (7/10) .
Leaving Bourges on Sunday evening, the Berruyères arrived, after stops in Paris and Istanbul, on Tuesday at midday on the shores of the Mediterranean “to have a good night’s sleep” and prepare for this decisive meeting in the best conditions. Essential to hope to beat a team which has not lost at home in the Euroleague since the second day against the Hungarians of Sopron, while none of the three major players appeared on the score sheet.
Source: Europe1
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
