In a triumphant display at Bercy, Lamboisières Saint-Martin and Laval have brought glory to the Pays de la Loire region by clinching the French Cup Trophies.
The women’s final saw a captivating match between Lamboisières Saint-Martin, a team promoted from NF2, and the equally impressive Louves de Saint-Delphin, both making their debut in the Accor Arena final. After trailing 29-32 at halftime, Thomas Belaud’s squad staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, securing a decisive 75-63 victory. The thrilling final ten minutes culminated in Eva Picault being named MVP for her outstanding performance, contributing 17 points and 6 rebounds.
In the men’s final, Laval, who are set to be promoted to Nationale 1, overcame an initial rocky start. Driven by the exceptional performances of Emryss Mormin (rated 19) and Antoine Belkessa (rated 18), the Mayenne-based team triumphed over a resilient La Ravoire Challes with a final score of 83-69. Emryss Mormin was recognized as the MVP of the match.
Player and Coach Reactions:
Emryss Mormin (MVP, Laval) expressed his elation: “The MVP award is secondary. The most important thing was to win with the team. We came here to win, and we did it. Playing in an atmosphere like this, with the entire club supporting us, is incredible. This victory is for the whole group, the volunteers, the supporters… it’s a moment we will never forget.”
Laval’s coach, Sébastien Cartier, shared his pride: “This group has had this objective for a long time. We told ourselves we would come back here to win, and we were ready for it. We knew it would be a tough game, but we never panicked. We took the time to set up our game, and once we got going, we executed. This title is the culmination of a project and an exceptional season.”
Maxime Duo Ebala from La Ravoire-Challes reflected on the match: “We started well, but we made too many mistakes and lacked clarity in crucial moments. They capitalized on that. There are regrets, of course, but above all, immense pride. Nobody cheated, everyone gave their all. We faced a very good team, and they deserve their win.”
Coach Alexandre Coronet of La Ravoire-Challes added: “It came down to small details. We had a good start to the game, we brought the necessary intensity, but they managed to adapt. We had a significant slump in the second quarter, and at this level, that’s unforgivable. Despite that, I am very proud of my players. It’s a young group, some 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.”
