REPORTAGE – Paris Basketball played and lost the first Euroleague match in its history on Friday, against Etoile Rouge, in a… hostile atmosphere.
The big evening, the entry into the big world. Created in 2018, Paris Basketball took its first steps in the Euroleague – the most prestigious European competition – on Friday in its Adidas Arena. David Kahn’s level of excitement before this big moment? “11 out of 10! It’s a very special moment. We are all very proud to be able to say that we are going to play in the best league outside of the NBA, and on some nights, maybe even better”the American president of the Parisian club explained to us, evoking “a year of discovery and learning” and demanding at the very least that the matches be “competitive”. This one was. Until the end. But the short story will be that Paris Basketball lost the first match in its history in the Euroleague (77-80). 16 points from TJ Shorts, 12 for Maodo Lo and Nadir Hifi. Top scorer of the match, Nemaja Nedovic scored 21 points.
For this inaugural date, Nadir Hifi and company had a full house. Fully loaded at Porte de La Chapelle. Except that you don’t always choose your audience. Obviously, the winner of the 2024 Leaders Cup is a young club, as we have said. He cannot (yet?) count on the «fanbase» of PSG in football, that’s a fact. In this specific case, it was a bit special. Serbian fans are always special. Officially, they were entitled to 500 places.
Like at Stark Arena
In fact, we quickly understood, when we saw the queue to access the room, that the red and white jerseys were in the majority. Impression confirmed as soon as the public entered the stands, 1h30 before kick-off, with several Serbian flags placed here and there. The few dozen members of Block Parisii, the Parisian supporters, arrived in their den an hour before the match. They probably thought they were entering the Stark Arena in Belgrade, 1,800 km away. Whistles, insults and other obscene gestures indeed accompanied their entry. Although, the Stark Arena is a bit hotter than that… These aren’t the craziest Serbian ultras who came to Paris.
No incident to report, however, even if only the official kop of the 500 Serbs was isolated from the rest of the spectators. Which Serbian supporters were quick to start singing, easily drowning out the voices of the few dozen members of Block Parisii. The club presented its new recruits to the public: loud whistles. Serbia in force. Belgrade-sur-Seine. An away match or almost for the Parisians, again copiously booed during the official presentation of the teams, a few minutes before letting go of the wild animals. A pre-match marked by beautiful visual animations on the floor. Banners celebrating last season’s victories in the Leaders Cup and Eurocup were also unveiled. “The future is being written now”said the speaker.
A bright future? In any case, the present wasn’t bad. Led by their new coach, former San Antonio pivot Tiago Splitter, the Parisians struggled with impact and skill at the start of the match (4-12). False start. All to the great pleasure of the Serbian fans, who responded to each other through stands, just like at home. “Defense, defense”asked the speaker. “Red Star”replied the Adidas Arena. Parisian false start.
Paris y a cru…
However, the enthusiastic Serbian supporters were not on the floor to help their favorite players. The visitors began to suffer against the defensive intensity of their hosts. And Lo caught fire with seven points in a row, before a triple from Malcolm and Shorts which gave Paris the reins just before the end of the first quarter (18-17). “Here, here, it’s Paris!”launched Block Parisii. Red Star got back in front with a big three-pointer (26-27), but it wasn’t going to last. In failure until then, Hifi also got involved (35-30) and Paris Basketball was still in control at the break, after two points at the buzzer from Jantunen (43-35 MT). Serbian fans? Muted, like the players of Ioannis Sfairópoulos. 10 points from Shorts and Lo at half-time, 10 also from Canaan.
Paris Basketball continued its momentum after the restart (53-40), while Olympic rugby sevens champion Andy Timo was invited to come and parade on the floor during a timeout. The opportunity to launch the Olympic anthem in the Adidas Arena, which hosted the badminton, rhythmic gymnastics, then para-badminton and para-weightlifting events during what David Kahn described as “the most beautiful Olympics in history” in our columns. Handball legend Nikola Karabatic was also around. Expensive in terms of ball losses but dominant on rebounds and skilful from afar, the Red Star players put their noses back at the window. In the Serbian kob, which became smokers for the duration of a match, some people took off their t-shirts and the temperature rose. And for good reason, Nedovic and company equalized at the buzzer which marked the end of the third quarter (58-58). Everything to do again for Paris Basketball, which had a lead of up to 13 points. And Belgrade in front at the restart (60-64).
Even more than elsewhere, a victory is deserved in the Euroleague. No small match, no small team. Heavy stuff every week, even several times a week. The Parisians also have a meeting with Milan next Friday, in Italy, before hosting the European champions Panathinaikos on October 15… at the Accor Arena, due to an e-sports event which will take place at the Adidas Arena, and a trip to the Bayern Munich court two days later. Cotton. All with the championship (La Rochelle, Dijon) in the middle, obviously.
…But Belgrade had the last word
Still, Paris was suffering, and not just because Nedovic was stringing the baskets like pearls, at three points if possible. On both sides of the floor, it was tough. Clumsy until then, Hifi scored a prize-winning basket, the kind of magical shot he made his specialty (68-67). And the Adidas Arena was finally on fire for the performances of the locals. Nedovic’s response was immediate. The Parisian defense was taking on water. Time-out Splitter. Red alert 4’13 from the end (70-75). With such low three-point percentages, it’s hard to compete, despite Shorts’ expertise. The Red Star missed several match points before the last minute and Shorts gave his team hope, with 1’11 to play (74-77). Which Shorts attempted a hyper-complicated alley-oop for Ward, after a jump ball won. In the stands, 40”8 on the clock. Miller-McIntyre in check and two throws for Hifi, the first in, not the second (75-77). The start of a tedious throwing competition, interspersed with timeouts.
Nadir Hifi still had one cartridge, one ball to equalize at 80-80 on the final buzzer. Alas, he was unable to arm before the siren sounded. Like Asvel the day before, against Maccabi Tel Aviv (89-82), Paris Basketball lost on the first day of the Euroleague vintage 2024-25 (77-80). The Serbian fans celebrated by throwing a few cups towards the floor, while Tiago Splitter preached good words to his players, who greeted the public. Remember that Monaco, for its part, disposed of Milan on Friday (93-80). Milan, Paris Basketball’s next opponent in the Euroleague. The story has only just begun.
Results of the first day:
Thursday October 3
Alba Berlin (GER) – Panathinaikos (GRE) 77 – 87
Monaco (FRA) – Milan (ITA) 93 – 80
Zalgiris Kaunas (LTU) – FC Barcelona (ESP) 74 – 67
Vitoria (ESP) – Partizan Belgrade (SRB) 88 – 82
Bayern Munich (GER) – Real Madrid (ESP) 97 – 89
Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR) – Asvel (FRA) 89 – 82
Friday October 4
Fenerbahçe (TUR) – Olympiakos (GRE) 82 – 71
Paris (FRA) – Red Star Belgrade (SRB) 77 – 80
Virtus Bologne (ITA) – Efes Istanbul (TUR) 67 – 76
