The battle for a top-four spot: Promitheas – Paris Basketball
The duel between Promitheas (10-6) and Paris (10-6) could decide a top-four spot in Group B. Paris will have home court for the eighth finals if it wins by more than 3, Promitheas will be in the top four if it wins and so does Turk Telekom.
Promitheas comes after an away victory with London Lions 93-89 thanks to the trio of Cowan-Kulboka-Thomasson who scored 53 points. They have 5 wins at home and 3 defeats in the Eurocup and they have 8 consecutive home wins in all competitions, among the victims being Buducnost, Trento or Paok. The team leaders are Kulboka 15.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, Thomasson 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3 assists and Cowan 10.8 points, 4.8 assists.
Paris has 2 consecutive victories at home after 2 suitable offensive matches, 89-85 with Slask Wroclaw and 85-79 with Nanterre. Although it is 5-3 away in the Eurocup, in the last 7 out matches it has only one victory in all competitions. Kyle Allman Jr (18.7 ppg) has not yet returned after the injury suffered in January and it is not known when he will return, Tyrone Wallace (14.4 ppg) did not play in the last round of the championship but will probably be fit. Instead, Axel Toupane recovered (8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds) and will be helped by Aamir Simms 13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, Amar Gegic 12.3 points or the youngster Kamagate who with 75% from 2 points has 9.1 points and 8.7 rebounds. Melbourne United captain Chris Goulding has already debuted in the championship for the French, being the main scorer last round.
The Greeks won the match in France 74-71 thanks to Cowan’s 21 points and Kulboka’s 13 points, from the French Aalman’s 15 points and Simms’s 13 points stood out.
It seems that the current form of the Greeks at home and the bad period away from home will tilt the balance a bit, but the French are a team with a long rotation and many good players, so they will certainly not give up, especially since there are chances that Chris Goulding will make his debut in this Eurocup season for the French.
Valentin Petruta
Photo credit: Eurocup
