Euroleague: Paris Basketball continues its crazy series by painfully defeating Virtus Bologna (81-78)

Received eight out of eight. Paris Basketball won this Thursday evening at home against Virtus Bologna. A sluggish victory (81-78) but which allows the incredible series of successes in the Euroleague to continue.

Let’s make no mistake. The Adidas Arena, almost sold out and white-hot by the Parisii kop, expected to win against the penultimate in the ranking. The scenario, on the other hand, did not say that Tiago Splitter’s men were going to cough so much at the start of the game.

With a six-point lead at the break (44-38), the Parisians then tried to control the match. Without panache but with a certain defensive rigor and some flashes from the brilliant American-Macedonian leader. Academic or not, the latter finished top scorer in his training (19 points, 2/2 to 3 points).

Suspense until the end

We thought the meeting was over. Cyréna Samba-Mayela, jersey number 24 on her shoulders and Olympic vice-champion in the 100m hurdles this summer in Paris, was entitled to her ovation. We were wrong. The Bolognese came back to two points with a minute and a half to go. And it was again Shorts who was responsible for sealing the score.

This success, which also marked the return to Ile-de-France of the French Olympic vice-champion Isaïa Cordinier, allows Paris to temporarily move up to 2nd place, behind Fenerbahce (one match less). Next European meeting on December 3 against Maccabi Tel Aviv, forced to relocate its home matches to Belgrade (Serbia) due to the war in the Middle East.

As for the French championship, we will have to travel to Portel on Saturday. In search, why not, of an eleventh consecutive victory, in all competitions.