Paris (AFP)

The Montpellier players won the French basketball Cup, securing a place in the Euroleague next season, after their 75-74 success against Charleville-Mézières in the final Saturday at Paris-Bercy.

In pain, Montpellier ended up enforcing the hierarchy.

This 5th BLMA French Cup - in as many finals - could have slipped through his fingers when the Carolo Flames, eighth in the Championship and fighting for a place in the play-offs, had the last possession with only a point of delay to be erased, without success.

A huge air gap from the Hérault in the third quarter allowed Charleville-Mézières to return when they had detached themselves by ten points in the second quarter (45-35).

"We had hollow, recognized the Belgian leader Julie Allemand. It is not the best basketball that we have played but we do not care, we have the trophy."

And so that the meeting does not escape Montpellier (4th in the Championship), it took all the talent and the rage to overcome the one who must return to Asvel at the end of the season.

While the Carolo Flames, beaten for the fourth time in four finals, had switched with six points in advance, Julie Allemand, designated MVP of the final in particular thanks to her 22 points and 8 assists, harangued her troops on the rise ball, before signing two three-pointers and an "assist" in less than a minute.

Tied (57-57) for the last quarter, Montpellier made the difference through its defense.

Just like the last possession of Charleville-Mézières where the BLMA got an offensive foul.

© 2021 AFP