Despite a valiant effort, Elan Chalon was unable to overcome the Spanish team, Malaga, in their recent Basketball Champions League (BCL) encounter. After Mathéo Leray tied the game at 65-65 with a three-pointer, leaving 4 minutes and 54 seconds on the clock, Chalon briefly held hope of an upset. However, Malaga quickly reasserted control, pulling away to a 65-72 lead and dominating the crucial final minutes. Ultimately, Elan Chalon led for only three minutes throughout this decisive match.
Jeremiah Hill led Chalon’s scoring with 20 points, closely followed by Mathéo Leray with 14. Lionel Gaudoux also made his return to the court, contributing 3 points and 6 rebounds after recovering from an ankle injury. For Malaga, Nihad Dedovic was the primary offensive threat, tallying 18 points.
“When you’re disappointed not to advance from the BCL Top 16, especially with teams like Wurzburg (second in Germany), Badalona, and Malaga in your group, it indicates that your overall performance has been respectable,” reflected Chalon’s coach, Elric Delord. “It’s been a long time since Chalon played in a European Cup at this level. We can be proud of our path this season. There is naturally disappointment because we are competitors, and the further we go, the more we want. I hope that never changes. But it’s important to look at the overall journey and acknowledge that reaching this stage was a significant achievement.”
Elan Chalon is set to play their final BCL game next Tuesday against Würzburg.
Meanwhile, fellow French team Le Mans will aim to secure their spot in the quarter-finals this Wednesday at 6:30 PM in Vilnius, Lithuania.
