Pau-Lacq-Orthez Clinch Finals Berth, Oust Orléans
Pau-Lacq-Orthez punched their ticket to the Pro B finals by overcoming Orléans 90-85 on the road, completing a 3-0 sweep in their semi-final series. The visitors established control early, carrying an 11-point lead into halftime at the CO'Met arena (41-52).
Despite a spirited comeback by Orléans, which saw them surge ahead by four points entering the final period (66-62), Pau-Lacq-Orthez responded decisively. A dominant 25-10 run in the third quarter swung the momentum back firmly in their favour, and they maintained their composure to close out the game. The visitors' superior efficiency, shooting 54% from the field and receiving 55 points from their bench, proved too much for Orléans, who struggled at 39% shooting and committed 14 turnovers.
While Orléans' Siriman Kanouté (23 points) and Nathan Kuta, who posted a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds, provided significant sparks, they couldn't overcome the deficit. Pau-Lacq-Orthez was steered by Thomas Cornely's near triple-double performance of 12 assists and 10 rebounds, complemented by François Wibaut's 18 points off the bench. Pau-Lacq-Orthez advances to the next round, having eliminated Orléans 3-0 in the series.