EXCLUDED EUROPE 1 - Final of Betclic Elite at Roland-Garros: Gilles Moretton "delighted to be of service to basketball"

Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin / Photo credit: Matthieu Mirville / DPPI via AFP 17:41 pm, June 07, 2023

A gala meeting in a dream venue. Game 3 of the final of Betclic Elite, the basketball France championship, between Victor Wembanyama's Metropolitans 92 and Monaco, will be played on the Philippe-Chatrier court, at Roland-Garros, on Thursday evening, June 15. A Game 4, on Saturday, June 17, could also be played there if necessary to decide between the two teams. An information mentioned last night in the program Europe 1 Sport and now confirmed by the president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) Gilles Moretton at the microphone of Martin Lange. Before that, the first two matches of the final will be played in Monaco.

"We are in favor of organizing this event," enthused the tennis leader before continuing: "We gave a green light for us to organize this event here, because sport is a priority. We are delighted to be able to serve both sport and French basketball" This will not be a first for basketball since a match between Paris-Basket and Monaco had already been organized in October 2022. It had gathered more than 10,000 people.

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Four days to dismantle everything

The challenge will be big for the organizers of Roland-Garros and the Federation. And for good reason, the men's final of the Grand Slam must take place this Sunday, four days before the basketball game. Gilles Moretton concedes, the FFT "does not have the teams to" dismantle the center court. "It was absolutely necessary that the club and the city of Boulogne take charge of all the technical organization," explained the president of the Federation.

The Tennis Federation will, however, provide assistance, at its level. "We will help our colleagues from the Basketball Federation and the National Basketball League," said Gilles Moretton. Other avenues to host this final had been considered. The Accord Arena but also the Defense Arena were approached by Victor Wembanyama's club. But other events were already planned. Usually, the Metropolitans 92 play at Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan, in Levallois-Perret, where the capacity in the stands cannot exceed 2,800 people. The club wanted to hold Game 3 in a larger venue to allow basketball fans to see prodigy Victor Wembanyama play one last time in the France championship before his departure for the United States scheduled for this summer.

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Wembanyama attraction

These matches 3, and potentially 4, will also be an opportunity for the French public to appreciate one last time the game of Victor Wembanyama under the colors of the Metropolitans 92. The prodigy is to be drafted in a few days in the NBA, in the United States. "We have a very, very great player who will leave soon. And if the greatest number of French people can see it, we will be delighted, "responded Gilles Moretton in Europe 1 Sport.

An exciting opposition between the Mets 92 and Monaco, since Monaco finished third in the Euroleague this season. For Gilles Moretton, "it's a very beautiful poster. She deserves to be in a big stadium. It's a boon for all sports enthusiasts in France." Ticketing information is due to be communicated shortly. 15,000 tickets should be on sale for this gala match.