Will the first trophy of the Tangos de Bourges season be a European Cup? Six years after winning the Eurocup, the Berruyère basketball players will try to add a second one to the trophy cabinet this Thursday evening. Opposite Bourges, favorite in his room at the Prado, are the Italians of Venice, who have never won the Eurocup but were the unfortunate finalists in 2018 and 2021. Kick-off 8 p.m.!
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After the failure of the very beginning of the season, where Bourges missed the qualification for the Euroleague, the objective is obviously to win the little sister, this Eurocup that the Berruyères have already won once, in 2016. Already boasting one of the finest records of French clubs in Europe, all sports combined, Bourges would consolidate this place by pocketing a sixth trophy on the European stage. But beware of Venice which “will have the knife between the teeth” warns the Tango Iliana Rupert. “Last year the first place escaped them by a few tenths of a second. They will be motivated, like us.”
The Italians were twice unfortunate finalists of this Eurocup, in 2018 and 2021, where they lost by one point, 82 to 81 against Valencia. In the semi-finals this year, somewhat on the same scenario as Bourges against Galatasaray (69-67), they had to tear themselves away to overthrow the Turks of Mersin who had nevertheless taken a significant lead during the game (85- 80). “We know that it will be a duel, a fight, that it is the one who puts the most niaque who will get this title” warns the leader of Bourges Alix Duchet.