BC "Bourg" (Bourg-en-Bresse, France) - BC "Prometey" - 92:85 (19:22, 18:15, 19:19, 21:21, 15:8). December 6. 7DAYS EuroCup group tournament. Group A. 7th tour. Bourg-en-Bresse (France). Arena "Equinox".
BC "Bourg": Mike* (8 + 2 steals), Palmer* (23 + 9 rebounds), Brimah* (0), Julien* (8), Massenat* (17), Benitez (16 + 4 assists + 2 steals ), Pelos (10 + 7 rebounds), Floyd (0), Courby (3), Brimah (0), Chassang (4 + 2 steals), Kokila (3).
BC "Prometey": Kennedy* (12 + 7 rebounds + 6 assists + 2 steals), Balvin* (16 + 8 rebounds), Clavell* (12), Lukashov*, captain (10), Stephens* (4 + 7 rebounds ), Lypovyy (6 + 2 steals), Tkachenko (3), Hogue (4), Petrov (0), Sanon (18 + 2 steals).
“Prometey” started the second third of the 7DAYS EuroCup regular season in their group with a road match against French “Bourg”. Our team was opposed by a club that managed to become the sole leader in Group A after 6 tours. Considering the fact that French team couldn’t make it to the EuroCup play-off last season, their today’s achievements can be qualified as one of the main surprises at the start of the tournament. At the same time, a confident course of “Bourg” through the tournament distance cannot be named the accident. Befor the trip to France, the head coach of “Prometey” emphasised that “Bourg” is a balanced team in all lines with a great performers in each one. There for, today, on a very special day for our country, Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, “prometey” awaited a difficult test.
In the debut part of the confrontation, it was difficult to give preference to any team. The teams took turns in small jerks that helped them to take a lead. In first 6 minutes, the hosts were more successful than “red and whites” in shots from the perimeter (4 successful attempts out of 8 and 2 – by James Palmer). It helped “Bourg” to register a small advantage (16:11), however the last word in this quarter was for “Prometey”. In the first 10-minute segment, Issuf Sanon scored last 6 points, which allowed guests to end the quarter in their favour – 22:19.
In the first 5-minute segment of the second quarter, the best Ukrainian club managed to set its handicap at the two-digit mark (34:24). In this game segment, Oleksandr Lypovyy and Ivan Tkachenko hit from the arc and Ondrej Balvin acted productively in the opponent’s lane. Unfortunately, the teams went for the long break with an equal score (37:37). The [players of “Bourg” continued surpassing guests in the accuracy of three-pointers (39 percent against 25 within 20 minutes). But in terms of the number of rebounds and losses, the opponents had almost equal figures (19 rebounds by "Bourg" against 17 ones by "Prometey" and 8 losses by the French against 7 ones by our team).
After the 15-minute break, Ronen Ginzburg’s squad improved the percentage of the successful attack from the perimeter (Staphens, Lypovyy, Clavell). Our team took a lead, however, as well as in the previous quarter, before the siren for the break, the opponent managed to overtake them. At the start of the final 10-minute segment, the team of Frederic Fauthoux managed to break away by 7 points (65:58), after which his colleague Ronen Ginzburg took a timeout. It was useful for the team. Although “Prometey” did not take a lead back, they levelled the score twice at the end of the quarter. The last parity (77:77) happened at 5 seconds to go, when Gian Clavell and DJ Kennedy drove Issuf Sanon for the free three-point shot. French team did not use the last attack, so the rivals had to define the strongest team in overtime.
Both opponents clearly lacked the strength for an additional five minutes, however “Bourg” had a little bit more needed energy. The hosts of the court were constantly in lead, and when in the last seconds of the five-minute segment our players resorted to tactical fouls, they scored free throws without mistakes.
“Bourg” won with the score of 92:85 and strengthened its leading position. As for our team, they still have 3 wins but after 7 matches now. There is still a long distance of 11 matches in the regular part of the tournament ahead, which can raise “Prometey” much higher in the tournament standings.
Natural mineral water "Vytautas" is the official hydration partner of BC "Prometey"
