The women’s final saw two surprising contenders, Lamboisieres Saint-Martin, recently promoted from NF2, and the Louves de Saint-Delphin, both making their first appearance at the Accor Arena for the Coupe de France Trophy. Despite trailing 29-32 at halftime, Thomas Belaud’s team staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, securing a 75-63 victory. Eva Picault, with 17 points and 6 rebounds, was deservedly named MVP of the match for her decisive performance in the final ten minutes.
In the men’s final, Laval, who are already guaranteed promotion to Nationale 1, faced some early challenges. However, inspired by Emryss Mormin, who earned MVP honors with an evaluation of 19, and Antoine Belkessa, who also scored 18 in evaluation, the Mayenne-based team overcame a resilient La Ravoire Challes squad with a final score of 83-69.
Post-match reactions:
Emryss Mormin (MVP, Laval): “The MVP award is secondary. The most important thing was to win with the team. We came here to win, and we did. Playing in an atmosphere like this, with the whole club behind us, is incredible. This victory is for the entire group, the volunteers, the supporters… it’s a moment we will never forget.”
Sébastien Cartier (Laval coach): “This group had this goal for a long time. We said we would come back here to win, and we were ready for it. We knew it would be a difficult match, but we never panicked. We took the time to set ourselves up, and once we got going, we played our game. This title is the culmination of a project and an exceptional season.”
Maxime Duo Ebala (La Ravoire-Challes): “We started well, but we made too many mistakes and lacked clarity in the important moments. They knew how to punish us for that. There are regrets, of course, but above all, a lot of pride. No one shirked their responsibility; everyone gave their all. We faced a very good team, and they deserve their victory.”
Alexandre Coronet (La Ravoire-Challes coach): “It came down to details. We started the match well, bringing the necessary intensity, but they adapted. We had a significant dip in the second quarter, and at this level, that’s unforgivable. Despite everything, I am very proud of my players. It’s a young group, some of whom were experiencing this type of event for the first time, but everyone responded with heart. We had a great adventure, and it will serve us well for the future.”
