Following in the footsteps of clubs like Limoges CSP, EB Orthez, SLUC Nancy, JSF Nanterre, AS Monaco, and Paris Basketball, JL Bourg-en-Bresse has become the seventh French basketball club to triumph in a European competition. This victory marks their first major trophy, especially poignant after finishing as runners-up in the same tournament last year.
The EuroCup final was decided in the dying seconds, with Adam Mokoka driving to the basket for the game-winning shot with just 1.1 seconds remaining. Mokoka, a standout performer with 17 points and 10 rebounds, alongside Kevin Kokila (18 points and a 27 rating), were the heroes of this memorable evening. They demonstrated immense resilience against a tenacious and determined Turkish opponent, seeking redemption after their previous encounter.
The question now for JL Bourg is whether they will accept the invitation to participate in next season’s EuroLeague. This would involve a demanding schedule of 38 games and a minimum salary cap of €4.6 million. Their home arena, Ekinox, with a capacity of 3,500, does not meet EuroLeague standards, and the city itself has just over 40,000 inhabitants.
A Quarter for JL, Another for Besiktas
The game began with JL Bourg taking an early lead, scoring their first points from free throws. Kevin Kokila was particularly active, despite accumulating two fouls. Even with Besiktas playing with high intensity, JL Bourg maintained a consistent lead throughout the first quarter, finishing it up by 8 points (25-17). The only concern for Bourg was Besiktas’s five offensive rebounds.
However, with the presence of Croatian giant Ante Zizic (2.10m, who had the highest rating at halftime with 14), Besiktas started to gain momentum, closing the gap to 27-24. Their defense allowed them to equalize the score at 29-29 by the 15th minute. Although JL Bourg managed to pull ahead again (35-29), a crucial fourth foul on Tajuan Agee and a third on Vincent Mitchell shifted the momentum.
Besiktas’s defense stifled JL Bourg’s offensive flow, leading to a scoring drought. The deficit widened to a maximum of 5 points (35-40) before halftime, with JL Bourg trailing by 2 points (38-40) at the break.
Mokoka and Kokila Shine
Ante Zizic continued to be a dominant force, scoring six unanswered points for Besiktas to give them a significant advantage (38-46). However, the pairing of Mokoka and Kokila managed to stop Besiktas’s surge and brought Bourg back to an even score at 48-48. The game was intense and hard-fought, a true final.
Tajuan Agee’s return to the court was marked by a three-pointer that gave JL Bourg a lead heading into the final quarter (55-52). Kevin Kokila was instrumental, contributing 16 points and a 24 rating at that stage, as his team began to pull away. The Franco-Angolan pivot was in excellent form.
Adam Mokoka missed an opportunity to seal the win earlier but still extended Bourg’s lead to 7 points (67-60). A series of three-point shots followed, with Will McDowell-White’s basket appearing decisive (71-66 with 1 minute 41 seconds left), leading the home crowd to erupt in song. However, Jonah Mathews (who finished with 18 points) managed to equalize the score with just 15 seconds remaining.
The rest, as they say, is history.
The box score can be found HERE.
Translation:
JL Bourg-en-Bresse has become the seventh French basketball club to win a European cup, securing their first major trophy after a thrilling EuroCup final victory. The match was decided in the final seconds by Adam Mokoka’s game-winning basket. Despite facing a tough Turkish opponent, JL Bourg’s key players, Adam Mokoka and Kevin Kokila, delivered strong performances. The article also raises questions about the club’s potential participation in the EuroLeague next season, given the arena’s capacity and the city’s size. The game saw shifts in momentum, with JL Bourg starting strong, Besiktas fighting back, and then Mokoka and Kokila leading a crucial comeback. The final moments were tense, with a late equalizer before Mokoka’s heroics sealed the win.
